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STAN FORD UNIVERSITY LJBR ARIES
STANFORD UNIVERSITY LIBRAKTliS
I
i^^^-^.O.v
^ ^or[U %xMXf
A ROMANCE
IN STANZAS OF EIGHT LINES,
-t
RE-EDITED FROM MS. HARLEY 2252^ IN THE BRITISH
MUSEUM,
WITH INTRODUCTION, NOTES, GLOSSARY
AND INDEX OF NAMES,
BY
J. DOUGLAS BRUCE, Ph.D.,
PROFESSOR OF THE ENGLISH LANOUAOB AND LITERATURE IN THE
UNIYERSITT OF TENNESSEE, U.S.A.
LONDON :
PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY
By KEGAN PAUL, TEENCH, TRUBNEE & CO., LIMITED,
DRYDEN HOUSE, 43, GERRARD STREET, SOHO, W.
1903.
£/2 e
^ctra S^tntn, lxxxyiii.
RiCHABD Clat k Sons, Limited, London and Bunqay.
12245G
CONTENTS.
Introduction : ^^°«
§ 1. MANUSCRIPT AND EDITIONS ... ,^ Vii
§2. SOURCES xiii
§ 3. DIALECT AND DATE .,. XX
§4. METRE XXV
§5. AUTHORSHIP XXVii
§6. STYLE XXix
Le Mortb Arthur ... ... ... 1
KOTES 122
Editions op Middle English Texts referred to in the
KOTES ^- ... 135
Glossary 137
Index op Kames 147
Vll
INTRODUCTION.
i 1. Mamiscript and Editions^ p. vii.
i 2. Sources, p. xiii.
i 3, Dialect and Date, p. xx.
§ 4. Metre, p. xxv.
§ 5. Authorship, p. xxvii.
§ 6. Style, p. xxix.
§ 1. MANUSCRIPT AND EDITIONS.
The metrical romance *Le Morte Arthur,' as far as is known,
exists o^ly in the British Museum MS., Harley 2252, in which MS.
it occupies leaves 86-133, back. In Ward's * Catalogue of Romances,'
L 405, the portion of this MS. which contains our romance is assigned
to the late fifteenth centurg ^, being the work of two scribes of approxi-
mately the same date. The hand-writing of the first of these scribes,
who is moreover the scribe of the romance known as * Ipomedon B.'
contained in the same MS., extends only as far as the bottom of leaf
101, back. In these first sixteen leaves, there are from thirty to
thirty-six lines to the page, whereas in the remaining portion the
lines run from thirty-nine to forty-six to a page. As has been
remarked by "Ward, the MS. contains besides *Le Morte Arthur' and
* Ipomedon B.' various miscellanies in a later hand, the most interest-
ing of which consist of poems by Skelton and others. This later
hand is probably that of John Colyns of London, who has written at
the end of the copy of our romance (leaf 133, back) : "Thys Boke
belongythe to John Colyns mercei' of london dwellyng in the paiysshe
of our lady at wolchyrche hawe Anexid the Stocked in )je pultre yn
Anno domi/^^ 1517." Of this John Colyns, in connection with the
affairs of his parish, there is mention in other entries in this MS.,
viz. : on leaf 163 and leaf 165. Still further, the inscription " Sum
Roberti Farrer," dating from the sixteenth century, is found on leaf
1, back, and it appears from another entry (leaf 162, back) that the
botfk was in the possession of this " Robert Farrers " in 1570.
The earliest notice of * Le Morte Arthur,' as far as I have been
able to discover, is that which is found in the 'Catalogue of the
Havleian Maxiuscripts,' II, 584. It runs as follows : " I know not
who this Poet was, but guess that he lived about the time of
K. Henry VII., and that he mig^t have been a Northern man. He
viii § 1. Early views regarding the Date arid Source of the Poem,
useth many Saxon or obsolete Words, and very often delighted him-
self (as did the Author of * Piers Plowman ') in the Chime of words
beginning with the same letter, as (that I may give one example)
*For welle the wiste withouten wene,' fol. 117^ I suppose he
enlarged upon the story (which was too large before) in that he
mentioneth the Tower of London, Syr Lucan de Botellere," etc.
That the date which Wanley, the compiler of the above catalogue,
here assigns to * Le Morte Arthur ' is too late was objected already by
Bishop Percy in his * Eeliques of Ancient English Poetry ' i published
in 1765. He bases his objection, however, on the absurd ground, that
the formula with which our romance opens, " Lordingis that are leff
And dere," seems to be quoted in * Syr Bevis.' Warton in his
* History of English Poetry' (1774-1781) approached the subject
with a knowledge of the Middle English romances, which neither
Wanley nor Percy possessed, but in classing^ the poem with the
work of the " nameless minstrels who probably flourished before or
alK>ut the reign of Edward II.," he makes the mistake of dating it too
early.
It is curious that liitson should have reverted to Wanley's
erroneous view with regard to the date. In the brief passage dealing
with our romance in the preface of his 'Ancient English Metrical
liomances,'^ after speaking in uncomplimentary fashion of Percy's
views on this subject, he says that it " is in fact nothing more than
part of the * Morte Darthur ' of Caxton turned into easy alternate
verw, a very unusual circumstance, no doubt, in the time of Henry
the Seventh, to which Wanley properly allots it. The antiquated
words used by this versifier are manifestly affected. Caxton's book
IB the only one known by the name of * La Morte D' Arthur,' which
lie took as ho found it."
Hie fame of the * Morte Darthur ' evidently blinded Ritson to the
possibility that Malory instead of the old romancer may have been
the real l)orrower — a view which has found favour in recent years —
or the still further possibility, which we believe to deserve most con-
sideration, that they borrowed from a common original. It is not at
all likely, however, that Ritson made any detailed comparison of the
two works with each other, to say nothing of the Old French ' Mort
Artus.'
Just three years later, in 1805, Ellis in his * Specimens of Early
^ See the edition of this work by A. Schroer, II, 551. Berlin, 1893.
'^ See the revised edition, II, 190. London, 1871.
3 See the revised edition by Edmund Goldsmid, p. 56. Edinburgh, 1884.
i
I 1, Tht Eoxbii7'ffhe Club Ediiion, mid Ih\ FumivaWs. ix
English Metrical Romances/ I, 308, in commenting on the ahove
passage in Ritson'a Preface remarks that our romance " differs most
essentially from Malory's work, which was a mere compilation ;
whilst it follows, with tolerable exactness, the Erunch Romance of
'Lancelot/^ and its phraseology which perfectly resembles that of
Chester and other authors of the fifteenth centnry, Ijetmys no marks
of affectation/' ^ We shall see later on how these statements of Ellis
also need correction. It was he, however, that first made the story
of the Harleian * Morte Arthur ' accessible to readers generally, for on
pp. 328-387 of his first volume ho gives a full outline of our romance
with occasional specimens of the original text»
At last in 1819 the romance was printed for the lioxburghe
Club at the cost of Thomas Ponton, In this edition the tj-^pe is
black letter, and there is no pagination. As a matter of fact, how-
ever, the text covers one hundred and twenty-nine pages, and the
glossary which is added covers four. There is, moi^over, a facsimile
prefixed of the two different hands which appear in our copy of the
poem, and on the title*page a design ** which represents the intrusion
of Sir Agravaine and his companions on the slumbers of the guilty
pair and the punishment inflicted by Sir Launcelot on their
temerity."
A list of the mistakes in the Roxburghe edition noted by IL F.
Weymouth appeared in the * Transactions of the Philological Society
for 1860-61/ pp. 279-281, but the romance was not repubhshed
until 1864, when Dr. Furnivall through the firm of Macmillan
and Co. brought out the very attractive edition which has since
generally superseded that of the Roxbui"ghe Club. It is almost
needless to say that there are very few errors in Dr. Furnivairs text,
and that his glossary marks a great advance over that which is con-
tained in the edition of 1819, I^Ioreover, the discussion of the dialect
and metre of the poems in the }^reface to his edition is still of interest.
Time has dealt more hardly, however, with the prefatory essay on the
Arthurian legend by Mr. Herbert Coleridge which follows immediately
on that discussion.
In the present edition I have eiideiivoui-ed to lay before the
reader all the facts of importance which relate to the dialect, date and
metre of the poem. I have, moreover, investigated witli a groat deal
' That this atatcinetit is not conect was pointed out already by Sir F.
Madd^a in the latf odnction to Ma ' 8yr Gawayne * (published for the Ba»na'
tyatj Club. London, 1839). See p. xxii, note.
'-^ Sec also pp. 327 f. of the same volume.
X § 1. Differences between the present and Dr. FurnivaUs Edition.
of care the question of the source of the romance and its relation to
Sir Thomas Malory's famous work, and I hope that I have been able
to put these matters at last in their true light. I have still further
endeavoured to bring the glossary up to the level of present know-
ledge, and I have also laboured by repeated collations to correct
whatever errors had crept into Dr. Furnivairs text. The most
frequent differences between the text of his edition and my own are
in letters at the beginning of lines and in c's at the end of words. It
is not always easy in our MS. to say whether the initial letter is
intended as a capital or not, and, on the other hand, a good many of
the e's used in Dr. Furnivairs edition for indicating the cross of pre-
ceding double I or the curl of preceding d and r were left unitalicised
by mistake. The list, however, of even these unimportant differences
is not long. The following are the only instances in which mistakes
of reading in Dr. Furnivairs edition affect the sense (I place his read-
ing first and the corrected reading after) : 497, Sute-Sitte ; 1 324, hyr-
hym; li55, not-non; 1617, Atmuncement-Atiauntement ; 2663, ower-
euer; 2912, grj/fehj-gi^ysehj ; 3206, tlie-tho ; 3326, prices-princes;
3il9, Refte-Reste;^ 3468,&e-me; 3759, the-tho ; 3S2Q, tJie-tho. It
should perhaps be noted also that the name of King Banndemagew
is wrongly given in Dr. FumivalFs edition as Baundemorgew (1. 2564).
In regard to the numbering of the lines, I have decided notwith-
standing the new arrangement in eight-line stanzas to retain the
numbering of Dr. Fumivall's edition. Any change in this matter
would have rendered comparison between that and the present
edition (including the discussions of language and metre in the
prefaces) very diflScult, nor could Dr. Seyferth's dissertation, which
contains a complete classification of the grammatical forms of our
poem and is based on Dr. Fumivall's edition, have been used with-
out very great inconvenience, if such a change had been made.*^ The
numbering I have retained has at least the justification of represent-
ing the actual number of lines in the only extant MS. of our poem
plus an allowance for those which the missing leaf between leaf 102
and leaf 103 contained.
In the numbering he has adopted Dr. Furnivall makes such an
allowance for the loss of " one or more leaves," so that in his edition,
although the last line before the gap is numbered 1181, the first one
^ The sense requires, however, Hefte^ so that I have adopted it in my text
* Prof. W. W. Skeat says rightly, I think: "An old numbering, even if
faulty, should be adhered to, where possible, for the sake of convenience of
reference." ('Wars of Alexander,' Preface, p. xiii, E. E. T. S., 1886.)
§ 1. Dr, Somvur's views concerning the Gap in the MS, xi
after the gap is numbered 1318. As already stated, I have adhered
to his numbering for the sake of convenience, but I think that he
has assumed here a greater loss than actually occurred. Each side of
a leaf in this part of the MS. contains, as has already been said, from
thirty-nine to forty-six lines. Now, if one compares the Middle-
English romance with the Old French Vulgate-Lancelot, it will be
seen that very little is missing from the former at this place.
Judging by this comparison, the missing passage would have included
a description of the funeral of the Maid of Ascalot, and possibly ^
some of the details of Lancelot's sojourn in the forest. I do not
believe, however, that any one who has made the comparison will
regard it as probable that more than one leaf from the Harleian MS.
is lost, and that would mean the loss of either ten or eleven stanzas
(of eight lines each) plus the two lines which are missing in the MS.
from the last stanza before the gap and the same number which are
missing from the first stanza after the gap — so a total of either
eighty-four or ninety-two lines.
In a letter to the 'Academy' of November 15, 1890, the sub-
stance of which he has repeated in a note to his * Studies on the
Sources of the Morte Darthur' (pp. 11 f.), Dr. H. O. Sommer has
argued that the gap in the Harleian MS. is after all only apparent,
that as a matter of fact the leaves have simply been misplaced. To
quote from the * Studies ' Dr. Sommer says : —
" The gap which is caused by the deficiency of the leaf can be
filled up as nearly as possible by 11. 832-951, which are, as above
stated, misplaced. By transposing these lines into the gap after fol.
102, the episode of * Guenevere and Mador de la Porte' becomes a
complete whole, if we omit 11. 912-927 because they are to a certain
extent repeated by 11. 1318-1331 (comp. e. g, 11. 916, 917, and 919
to 11. 1318, 1320 and 1321), and also U. 928-951 as being an
apparent contradiction to 11. 1467-1503.
" How did this confusion arise 1 I venture to think that I can
satisfactorily answer this question. The poet while transcribing the
French prose into English verse, finding that he had so far abandoned
his source that it was impossible for him to connect his narrative
^ One has to remember that the Old French Vulgate-Lancelot is not the
source of the Harleian romance, although their narratives are similar. The
latter shows many transpositions of episoaes, as I have pointed out in ' Anglia/
xxiii, 87 ff., so that one cannot speak positively about this matter, and hence I
have not tried to supply the missing portion of the story by extracts from the
French romance.
xii § 1. Beasom for rejecting Dr. Sommer's proposed Cfhanges.
with the ensuing events, re-wrote a part of his work, and very likely
marked the portions which he wished to be omitted. The scribes
afterwards neglected or did not understand his indications, and so
the Harl. MS. contains a certain portion twice which varied only in
the end. Thus the folio missing after 102 evidently contained 11.
832-911 + two lines rhyming with U. 1318 and 1319, and complet-
ing 11. 1318-1323 to a stanza of eight lines — or eighty-two lines, the
exact number of lines contained by several folios of the Harl. MS.
" If these proposed emendations are accepted, the episode of
'Guinever and Mador de la Porte' would consist of (1) 11. 832-910;
(2) two lines + 1318-1671, and thus arranged would be in accord-
ance with the account given of this episode by the various MSS. of
the * Lancelot ' in the British Museum, and with that of Malory's
*Le Morte Darthur,' book XVIII, chaps, iii to viii."
With reference to all these arbitrary and complicated changes
which Dr. Sommer proposes,^ I need only say that they are wholly
uncalled for. The occasion for his proposing the transposition of 11.
832 ff., as he says elsewhere in the note from which I have just been
quoting, is that they interrupt " the episode of Lancelot and the Fair
Maiden of Ascolot." But notwithstanding the erroneous statement
in the last paragraph we find the same arrangement exactly in the
Old French Vulgate-Lancelot, both in the printed texts and the
British Museum MSS.^ — only in the Vulgate-Lancelot the narrative
is broken by the insertion of still other material. One simply has to
collate our poem with the Old French romance to convince oneself of
the truth of this assertion, and it is difficult to see how Dr. Sommer
could ever have proposed his rearrangement of the former, if he had
really made this collation.^
Apart from the arrangement in stanzas the most notable differ-
ence in appearance between the present edition and Dr. Furnivairs
is due to the use of italicised e, which is made in the latter wherever
the preceding double I has the cross-line drawn through it (ti) or the
preceding d ot r ends with a flourish. In accordance with the practice
^ Seyferth in his * Sprache und Metrik des mittelenglischen strophidchen
Gedichtes, * Le Morte Arthur* und sein Verhaltniss zu * The Lyfe of Ipomydon *
(Berlin, 1895), p. 74, accepts them without further examination.
2 The MSS. break the episode of * Mador de la Porte ' even more than the
printed text, inasmuch as they interrupt it also with the story of Lancelot's
accidental wounding, and Bors' search for him. Cp. Additional MS. 10294, leaf
64, col. 3— leaf 65, col. 2.
3 What the order of incidents is in the Vulgate-Lancelot as compared with
the Harleian romance, I have set forth in my article in * Anglia,' xxiii, pp. 83 f.
§ 2. Dr. Sommer\ views concerning the Sources of the Poem, xiii
of the Early English Text Society, a special type has been, of course,
employed in the present edition to reproduce these peculiar forms,
and also m and n with the flourish.
I have moreover expanded the MS. contraction *w** into with,
instead. of icyth, which Dr. Eumiyall adopts in his edition. ^ The
matter is of no great importance, but where the uncontracted form is
used in the MS., with and loithe greatly preponderate over loj/th and
mjthe. I find indeed loyth only once, 1. 99, and wythe only three
times, 11. 1963, 2447, 2625, whereas with occurs five times, 11. 45,
51, 842, 1606, 2127, and withe eighteen times, 11. 955, 1638, 1642,
1723, 1778, 1820, 2031, 2101, 2155, 2159, 2181, 2307, 2442, 2464,
2535, 2552, 2577, 2602. Nearly all these uncontracted forms occur
at the beginning of lines.^
§ 2. SOURCES.
It will have been observed from the above section that both
RitsQn and Ellis hazarded suggestions regarding the source of our
romance, and the same is true of still other scholars of later date.
This question, however, was first discussed in detail by Dr. H. Oskar
Sommer in the third volume of his edition of Malory's^ *Morte
Darthur* (London, 1889-91), especially pp. 249 ff. Nevertheless in
his discussion Dr. Sommer in the main simply develops suggestions
of earlier scholars, for the most part ill-founded, with reference to
the source of our romance and its relation to the other Death of
Arthur romances. For instance, his notion that the portion of our
romance which follows the gap in the Harleian MS. is the original of
the latter part of Malory is derived from Branscheid (* Anzeiger ' to
*Anglia,' viii (1885), 220), and the further notion that the Old
French Vulgate-Lancelot constitutes the source of the Harleian
* Morte Arthur ' down to the gap seems a partial and ill-considered
^ The late Prof. Eoelbing expands also by loUhj in his edition of * The Lyfe
of Ipomydon/ which is contained in the same MS. as our poem, having been
copied by the same scribe that copied 11. 1-1091 of * Le Morte Arthur.*
^ It should perhaps be added that at the beginning of certain divisions of the
story {e. g. 424, 832, etc.) the scribes left space for the illumination of the initial
letters, although they were never actually illuminated. The initial letters in
guch cases are small letters, but with reference to the scribes' intention I have
represented them in this edition, as they were in Dr. Furnivall's, by large,
heavily leaded capitals.
* I have confined myself in the following to a discussion of the immediate
sources of our romance. The ultimate sources I expect to discuss in an edition
of the Old French * Mort Artus ' (the last branch of the prose * Lancelot du Lac *)
which I am now engaged in preparing.
xiv § 2. Soitrces. A Discussion of I^r, Sonimer's views.
adoption of Ellis' erroneous view, cited above, with regard to the
relation of our poem and the old French romance.^
In an article which appeared in * Anglia,* xxiii (1900), pp. 67 ff.,^
I submitted Dr. Sonimer's discussion to a detailed examination, and
succeeded, I hope, in fixing the true relations to each other of the
Harleian *Morte Arthur,' Malory's work, and the Old French
Vidgate-Lancelot. The conclusions of this article I will summarise as
follows, referring the reader for the full argument'to the article itself :
I. Dr. Sommer wavers between two opinions, (1) that the portion
of the Harleian romance after the gap in the MS. is the original of
the corresponding portion of Malory's * Morte D'Arthur ' ; (2) that
this part of the Harleian romance and the corresponding portion of
Malory are derived from a common source. The second of these
views, however, is evidently the correct one,^ only it should be recog-
nised that the poet of the Harleian romance does not begin to draw
from the same source as Malory just after the gap in the MS. (1. 1318),
but somewhat later (I. 1672), or to state the matter conversel}', it is
only the twentieth and twenty-first books of Malory which are drawn
from the same source as the latter part of the metrical romance, not
any portion of the eighteenth.
The following passages in Malory, which have nothing corre-
sponding in the English metrical romance, show that he was not
dependent on the latter. The citations are from Sommer's edition
(vol i.), London, 1889-91.
1. The long conversation between Lancelot and Guinevere when
the former has been espied in the Queen's chamber (pp. 801-802).
2. The latter part of Lancelot's speech to Agravain and his
knights whilst Lancelot is still in the Queen's chamber, together
with the reply of Agravain and Mordred (pp. 802-803).
3. Lancelot's parting with Guinevere after he has slain Agravain
and his knights (p. 803).
^ Dr. Furnivall devotes very little space to the discussion of sources, and
with regard to the relation of our romance to Malory, he seems to have remained
in doubt as to whether the latter was dependent on the former or whether both
were derived from a common original. He noticed, however, correctly that the
Harleian romance could not have been based on what is known as the Yulgate-
Lancelot. See Preface to his edition, pp. xvi f.
2 The full title is: *The Middle English metrical romance, **Le Morte
Arthur" (Harleian MS. 2252) : its sources and its relation to Thomas Malory's
** Morte Darthur."'
3 E. Wechssler has adopted it from Sommer in his * Ueber die verschiedenen
Radaktionen des Robert von Borron zugeschriebenen Graal-Lancelot-Cyklus *
(Halle, 1895), p. 36.
§ 2. Sottrces, The relation of the Poem to Malory's last two Books, x v
4. Lancelot's interview with the knights who assemble to join
him after the affair with Agravain (pp. 804-807).
5. The latter part of Arthur's speech on his being told that
Guinevere has been carried off, and that his knights have been slain
(pp. 811-812).
6. Lancelot's long speech in excuse of himself when he brings
Guinevere back (p. 824).
7. Lancelot's consultation with his knights before leaving Arthur's
kingdom (pp. 828-829).
8. Lancelot's consultatipn with his knights before going out to
meet Gawain at the siege of Benwyk (p. 834).
9. Gawain's death-bed conversation with Arthur and his letter to
Lancelot (pp. 841-843).
10. Lancelot's speech on hearing of the revolt of Mordred
(p. 852).
11. The visit of Lancelot to Gawain's tomb (p. 853).
12. The warning which Lancelot receives in a vision to go to
Guiuevere, together with her death and burial (pp. 856-858).
13. Hector's lament over Lancelot (p. 860).
There is, furthermore, nothing in the Old French Vulgate-
Lancelot to correspond to the above passages, except in the case of
those numbered 6 and 9, and even in these cases there is no direct
dependence. Nevertheless, these passages 6 and 9 and many others
of less extent show that there is a connection of some sort between
Malory and the Old French romance, and all the difficulties of the
situation are best explained, if we assume that the author of the i
Middle English romance and Malory drew from a common source,
which in its turn was a modification of the Old French Vulgate- 1
Lancelot. The similarities and occasional coincidences of phraseology
which one observes in comparing Malory and the Middle English
metrical romance are only such as must occur where two writers are
following closely the same original.^
1 In his selections from *Morte Darthur ' (Boston, 1897), pp. 305 ff., Dr. W.
E. Mead has discussed this question from the point of view of pnraseologv alone,
without makins the investigation as to source. His conclusions agree witn mine.
W. W. Newell, who in his * King Arthur and the Table Round ' (London,
1897), ii, pp. 201-239, and pp. 262 f., has given an abstract of our romance,
remarks, p. 262 : * The exquisitely beautiful work of the beginning of the fifteenth
century (?) depends on the French prose romance, but with variations ; the
writer perhaps obtained his material from oral recitation, and the poem may not
have hieen written, but only recited, and recorded by another hand at a date
considerably after the time of its composition." After the discussion in the
text, I do not believe that it is necessary to consider this statement more
particularly.
MORTE ARTHUR. h
xvi § 2. The Source of Lhies 1318-1671.
II. a. As already stated, it is not at 1. 1318 that the poet of
the Harleian romance began to use the same source as Malory, but
at 1. 1672. The lines that lie between (1318-1671) deal with the
episode of Mador de la Porte. Now, apart from the very important
difTerence that in Malory this episode occurs at a different point in
the order of the narrative, the chief variations between the account of
these incidents in our metrical romance as compared with Malory arc
as follows : —
1. We have in MH. (the romance of the Harleian MS.) two
separate appeals of Guinevere to Bors before he consents to defend
her, viz. 11. 1340 ff. and 1422 ff., whereas in Maloiy there is only
one (pp. 731 f).
2. In MH. (1357 ff.) the Queen also appeals to Gawain, to which
there is nothing to correspond in Malory.
3. The circumstances of Lancelot's meeting with Bors in the
forest are different in the two works. In MH. Bors and Lionel
have gone forth to offer up their orisons at a chapel in the forest
before the battle (1459 ff.) and meet Lancelot riding there by chance.
In Malory (p. 732) Bors, who is alone, goes forth on purpose to seek
Lancelot.
4. The scene and speech of the Queen in her chamber alone when
she laments the absence of Lancelot, IL 1404 ff. !Not in Maloiy,
pp. 730 ff.
5. In MH. they sit at the "borde" before the battle (1504 ff.),
of which there is nothing in Malory (pp. 732 f.).
6. In MH. both Mador and Lancelot are unhorsed in their
encounter (1584) ; in Malory only Mador, whilst Lancelot of his own
accord after the first encounter descends from his steed (p. 735).
7. In MH. Mador asks Lancelot to reveal to him his name
(1604 ff.); there is nothing similar to this scene in Malory (pp.
736 f.).
8. In MH. the squires are put to the torture, and in this way the
true author of the death of Mador's brother is forced to confess, his
crime (1648 ff.). In Malory it is the "damoysel of the lake,"
JS^ymue, who reveals the criminal (p. 737).
Kow in regard to all the points just enumerated, in which MH.
differs from Malory, with the exception of the last, which is found
only in MH., a comparison shows that it stands in close relation to
the Yulgate-Laacelot, so that t)i«Mi ean be no doubt that these
features ol the IP' md ultimately from that
§ 2. Errors of Dr. Sommer regarding these Lines, xvii
work (or its source), although several of them have undergone trans-
position or alteration in the process. In fact, whilst differing
markedly from Malory, as the above enumeration sufficiently shows,
the relation to the Vulgate-Lancelot is just the same as that of
the whole preceding portion of the romance down to 1. 1318 — a
relation not of direct dependence, but of ultimate derivation from it
tlirough an intermediate version of the part of the Lancelot-story
based on that romance (or its source) of the same general nature as
the common source of MH., 11. 1672-3969, and the last two books of
the * Morte Darthur.' ^
h. Dr. Sommer's view, then, that the lines which came just after
the gap in the Harleian MS. are derived from a different source from
the portion of the romance that precedes that gap is erroneous. But
this erroneous view has led him (p. 250) to look for contradictions
between these portions of our poem where none really exist. The
only point of this kind he has cited which is really worth considering
is that of the two accounts which Lancelot receives concerning Queen
Guinevere's troubles over the poisoning of the Scottish knight — the
one occurring before the gap, 11. 928 ff., and the other after, in 11.
1467 ff. In the first case he hears the story by general report whilst
he is lying ill in the forest under the care of a hermit, and in the
second he hears it from Bors after he has recovered and is riding
about. There is, however, really no inconsistency here, for in the
Vulgate - Lancelot also, at exactly corresponding places in the
narrative, Lancelot is told twice of these events. The apparent
inconsistency is simply due to the fact that the author of the
English romance has neglected to make Lancelot remark in the
second instance that he had heard of the incident before.^ The
author of the French romance had properly made him say this. The
awkwardness, however, of the English poet in this passage is nothing
as compared with that 'which he has been guilty of in leaving the
cause of Lancelot's iUness unaccounted for in II. 933 ff. The last
time we had heard of Lancelot before, viz. in 11. 780 ff., he was in
perfect health. As a matter of fact, the poet in this instance went
so far in the condensation of the story of his source that he has
* The fact that we have after the gap Bors, and Estor (prevailingly), as the
forms for the proper names which appear as Boerte and Ector in the earlier part
of our text is due no doubt to a preference of the second scribe who began
writing at 1. 1092. As it happens, the names do not occur between 1. 1092 and
the gap.
* As far as Lancelot's inquiry on meeting Bors, 1. 1482, is concerned : " how
now farys my lady bryght,*' this is purely conventional. Such conventional
inquiries are especially common in ballad literature.
xviii § 2. The Source of Lines 1-1671.
become unintelligible without reference to that source. If we refer
to the corresponding place in the Vulgate-Lancelot (which, though
not the actual source of MH., undoubtedly gives us the main outline
of the story of that source), we learn that the cause of Lancelot's
illness is an accidental wound, which he has received from one of the
king's huntsmen.^
IIL The source of the Harleian romance from 1. 1672 to the end
is unquestionably the same as that of Malory's twentieth and twenty-
first books. Now, what is the source of the portion which goes
before 1. 1672 ? As I have already had occasion to say in another
connection, the source of the earlier portion — from the beginning of
the poem down to 1. 1672 — ^was a modification of the Vulgate-
Lancelot different from the common source of MH., 11. 1672-3969,
and Malory's last two books, although of the same general nature.
For this earlier portion we have no parallel version as we have for
the later portion in Malory's last two books, but a comparison with
Malory and the Vulgate-Lancelot shows that the author of the
Harleian romance in this later portion followed very closely the
source used by himself and Malory, and there is no reason to suppose
that his method of dealing with his source in the earlier portion was
different. Making the comparison for the later portion, viz. that
which extends from 1. 1672 to the end, we find that wherever the
poem of the Harleian MS. has any incident not in Malory, some-
thing parallel to it may still be found in the Vulgate-Lancelot,
showing that in such instances the poem represents their common
original more accurately than Malory. ^
The fact that the Harleian romance and Malory take up the
incidents in this later portion of the narrative in exactly the same
order shows still further that the Middle English poet followed his
source closely. There is only one transposition, indeed, of any
importance which he has allowed himself, as a comparison with
Malory shows, and the reason in that case is obvious. I refer to
the end of the story, whore the author, being in a hurry to conclude
his poem, suppresses the story of how Lancelot and his fellows went
to Almesbury and fetched the dead Queen's body to Glastonbury
(Malory, Book XXI, Ch. xi), but further on (11. 3954-3961), after
describing Lancelot's death, relates in the briefest way that his
companions did this.
1 Cp. Additional MS. 10294, leaf 64, col. 3— loaf 64, back, col. 3.
^ I have discussed this at great length in * AngUa,* xxiii, pp. 96 fif.
§ 2. Belation of LI. 1-1181 to Malory & the Vulgate-Lancelot, xix
I repeat then that since onr author can be shown to hare followed /
his Qiiginal doeelj in the only part of his work where the means of /
ccmtrol exist, there can be no reasonable doubt that he did the same 1
thing in the earlier part too, where such means are wanting.
I hare already pointed out differences between ^laloiy and the
poem for the lines after the gap in the MS. down to L 1671, which
show that the two are independent of each other in that part of the
narratiTe,^ and I will now do the same thing for the portion before
^® 8AP9 ^ 1-1181. In all of the points of difference I am about to
cite there is an agreement between the Harleian romance and the
Vulgate-Lancelot as against Malory. I follow Dr. Sommer's enumer-
ation (pp. 249 f.) — only I leave out the first point he makes as being
incorrect
1. In the Harleian poem ( = MH., U. 63 ff.) when Arthur has
left for Winchester, Lancelot comes to Guinevere with the intention
of taking leave and going to the tournament, whereas in Malory
Guinevere suggests that he should go.
2. The armour of Lancelot is red in MH. (1. 176), and the colour
of the sleeve is not mentioned, whereas in Malory the sleeve is
red and the colour of the armour is not specified (except in the case
of the shield, which is white).
3. Lancelot in MH. (IL 245 ff. and 321 ff ) stays both before and
after the tournament at the house of his host's sister, whereas in
Malory he stays before the tournament at the house of a rich
** burgeis," and after it, at a hermitage.
4. When Lancelot hears of the new tournament to wliich lie
cannot go, in MH. (IL 382 ff ) his wound breaks open from tlii^
violence of his emotion; in Malory he overstrains himself by
attempting to ride.
5. The maiden's letter which in MH. (IL 1078 ff.) repioachi^M
Lancelot with cruelty, does not ^ m in Mjslory,
6. Whilst in MH. (IL 952 ff.) Lancelot is s^jtmii from oouii wJui/
the maiden's body arrives, he is present in Malory.
On the other hand. Dr. Sommer's assertion (p. 24V; iimi iIpc
sequence of incidents in MH. and the Vulgate-Lafi^^il'/t u i^
same is erroneous. ''A minute examination of th^^ tlr^i ^juit f*t
MH.," he says (p. 250), " discloses several points whi^b do turl Ai^ibwc
witti P.L. (= the 1513 print of the Vulgate-Lano<^>/i/, Ut Oi*r
are of very secondary importance and can be exyhitn-'i .fiOio/it
1 See p. xvj, above.
XX § 3. Variotcs opinions as to the Dialect of the Poem.
exception as the poet's modifications of the source in order to adapt
his material to the exigencies of his metre ; thus in his tendency to
avoid proper names, he gives no names for the localities where the
events he relates take place." These words, however, give an utterly
false idea of the real relation of MH. and P.L. As a matter of fact,
when we compare the former with the latter, we discover that the
English poem exhihits numberless transpositions of material, and
indeed in the part covered by 11. 504-831, the two works are so
unlike that it is difficidt to keep up any comparison at all. I have set
forth the whole matter, however, in great detail in * Anglia,' xxiii,
pp. 87 flf., and must refer the reader to that place for the proof of my
assertion. It is only in the part of the narrative, covered by 11.
832-1181, that the English and French romances run closely together.
To conclude, as I have already said more than once, the source of 11.
1-1671 is not the Vulgate-Lancelot, but some modification of the
Vulgate-Lancelot (or, possibly, its source) no longer in existence.
§ 3. DIALECT AND DATE.
The dialect of our poem has been generally recognized as Midland
by all recent students^ who have expressed themselves on the subject
The only question has been whether the language was that of the
East or "West Midland. In his edition of our poem^ Dr. Fumivall
adopts the view of the late Dr. Eichard Morris to the effect that it is
East Midland, but the value of Dr. Morris' conclusions is impaired by
his failure to distinguish between the language of the poet and that of
the scribes. On the other hand. Professor Alois Brandl in the Intro-
duction to his edition of ' Thomas of Erceldoune ' ^ (p. 55) speaks of
our poem as "West Midland, and Dr. Seyferth in his dissertation *
(p. 57) has since assigned it more definitely to the Northern border of
the West Midland region. I believe that Dr. Seyferth's view of the
^\ origin of our poem is the correct one. But let us see what is the
evidence of the forms {i, e. those fixed by rime) in regard to the
language of the poet as distinguished from that of the scribes.^ As
Dr. Seyferth has remarked, we have in our poem as characteristic of
^ Wanley's opinion, which I have quoted above (p. vii) in another connection,
has of course no value.
2 See Preface, pp. xiv f. » Published at Berlin in 1880.
* For the title of this study, which is an enlargement of a dissertation pre-
sented previously for the doctorate, see above, p. xii, note 1.
* Dr. Seyferth, pp. 54 ff., has alreadv discussed the question of dialect very
fully. What I have to say here is in tne main based on the materials he has
collected in his dissertation.
§ 3. Phonological Peculiarities of the Text. xxi
a Midland document a mixture of Northern and Southern peculiarities
of speech. To take some of the common dialect tests, O.E. a yields 6
as a rule in our text Cp. the rimes, 761 ff. stone : tome : mone :
none, 976 ff. tho :go : so : therto, 1073 ff. woo : goo : ther-to : fo,
1112 ff. thoo : do : therto : so, 2803 ff. bone (= request) : done :
none : one, 2938 ff. two : go : thro : to, 2898 ff. none ( = noon) :
vppon : A-none : one (cp. also 1792 ff.), 3678 ff. doo : 7no, On the
other hand, where the a was followed by r, we have resulting some-
times d and sometimes 6, but the former much more frequently.
For S cp. 1169 ff. sore : more : bore (= bom), 3715 ff. more : ore :
therfore : «ore. On the other hand, for a cp. the rime of mare with
fare, 434, 2040, 2052, 2111, 2238, 2601, 3769, 3837, with care,
557, 685, 687, 771, 1091, 1125, 1426, 3605, 3737, 3760; again of
sare with /are, 511, 802, 2046, 2117, 2216, 2244, 2442, 2458, 2501,
2597, 2801, 3835, with care, 559, 681, 3599, 3756, with hare, 3069.
Notice besides that a is kept in hare, 951, riming with /are, and with
care, 951, 2101, 2214, and 2606.
O.E. Jeer, toderon show as their vowel in our text sometimes a,
sometimes e, and wderon shows in two instances also 6, viz. in 1172
and 2099. In both of these instances the scribe has written were,
but the rime with bore (= bom), 1174, 2101, shows that the original
form was wore. For examples of there as fixed by rime see 552 ff.
(fere : there : were : here), 641 ff. (Zere ; were : here : there), 720 ff.
{there : nere : hrere : chere), 825 ff. {there : chere : nere : hei'e),
1721 ff. {here : th&t*e :*swere : yere), etc.; iovthare cp. 507, 2042,
2452, 2577 (: fare), 775, 804, 979, 1422 (: care), etc. On the
other hand, for were cp. 3 (: dere), 159 (: sopere : hachelere : dere),
413 (:/ere), 435 (: d&i-e : were), 480 (: chere), 556 (: /iere : /ere), 643
(^•e : lere), 2224 (were : /ere), 2766 ( : dere), and 3238 (: Boteler :
here : fere); and for w?are cp. 220 (: fare), 345, 351 (: fare), 769
(: care), 949 (/are : care), 1095 {care : 5are, adj.), 2115 {ifare), 2797
(: fare), etc. In addition to these words notice that whar in 3603
stands in rime with care. The mixture of the a, e, and o forms in these
words is characteristic of the Northern and North Midland districts.^
W.S. ea before Z + consonant yields sometimes e and sometimes
o. For the former cp. 920, 1928, 2917 {welde : shelde), 3405 {feld :
weld), and for the latter 712 {folde : golde : wolde), 803, 3917
* See on this subject F. J. Curtis, * Anglia,' xvi, 449 f. It is often impossible
to say which of these variant fonns our poet used in a particular case, so, on the
whole, I have thought it better to follow Dr. Fumivall in leaving the MS. forms
unchanged.
xxii § 3. Inflexional Fonns.
(wolde : holde), 1705, 2302, 2548, 3589 {holde : icolde\ 3302, 3686
{holde : molde).
As regards the representatives of O.E. y (the result of mutation),
we have both i (appearing often as y) and e in our text, but the
evidence under this heading is not very important, especially since
in the case of sounds that, comparatively speaking, differ so little it is
impossible to say how far the forms even in rime are due to the
scribes.
Looking now at the evidence of the inflexional forms, we observe
as characteristic of the North and Korth Midland the present participle
in -and, which occurs three times in rime, viz. 2365 flf., lande : gar-
lande : hande : synghand] 2661 fif., honde : stonde : londe : lyvande,
and 2834, stonde : londe : hond : levande. Indeed, the only present
participle in -ynge fixed by rime is lasfynge, 3676, which rimes with
hynge, thijnge, and sokerynge (verbal noun).
The 2 sing, of the present indicative ends in -ys in the only
instance where it is fixed by rime, namely, in 1572, gredys riming
with dedijs : nedys : ^wedys. One is tempted to cite three more
such forms in our poem which do not occur in rime, especially as
two of them occur in the portion of the text which was written by a
scribe evidently more Southern than the poet, I mean, viz. semys
\Q5fpre8on8 1853, lydenes 2402, but this is hardly safe. Similarly
there is but one instance in our poem of the 2 sing. pret. indie, stand-
ing in rime, and that like the 2 pres. indie, points to the !N'orth, viz.
3430 Radde (N.B. without the inflexional -est) riming with sprad
(3 sg. pret. ind.) and hystadde.^ The evidence here is, of course,
rather scanty, but as far as it goes it points to North or North
Midland.
In the only instances where the 3 sing. pres. indie, occurs in rime
it ends in 8, viz. tase, 956, has, 958 {loas : case). These forms like
the others cited point to the North or North Midland.
The forms of the 3 pi. pres. indie, which are fixed by rime end
in -e (doubtless mute), see 1685, here 1733, ri/de 2569 — that is to
say, are Midland in characjier. (The forms dwelle 232, and hyde
243, probably also belong here, though they may be subjunctives.)
We have besides occurring not in rime, but probably due to the poet
^ Dr. Seyferth has pointed out, moreover, that wherever 2 sing. pret. indie,
forms in -wfc, -yaiifi) occur in our poem, even though not in rime, except in 1. 1155,
—viz. in 1148, 1162, 1160, 2832, 3942, 3945, " verlangtder vers die dem norden
eigene abwerfung der endung." This is certainly true from the point of view of
strict regularity, yet I can't say that the change would improve the rhythm.
§ 3. Inflexional Forms and Vocahulary. xxiii
rather than to his more Southern scribe, the following instances of
the 3 pi. pres. indie, ending in -s, viz. Imskes 2525, 2715; graythes
2530, and has 2599. These forms are Northern or North Midland.
To judge by the rimes the preterite form was was pronounced ices, as
in many Northern texts (Barbour's * Bruce,' ' Sir Tristrem,' * Octavian
B'). Only twice does it rime with a, namely, in 952, 1135. In all
other places the pronunciation wes is required, viz. 274, 421, 994,
998, 1514, 1717, 1863, 2349, 2518, 2730, 2955, 3559.
It is to be noted that there are several instances of the inflected in-
finitive fixed by rime in our text : sayney 861, 1028, 1106, 1130, 1587,
etc.; slaym, 2410; sene., 1971, 2435, 2671, 3342; 1)ene, 1503, 1925,
2022, 2268, 2284 ; done, 1122, 2068, 2805. On the other hand, the
infinitive without ending is the rule, being so frequent as to need no
illustration. The [infinitive ending i (y) from O.E. -ian (second
class of weak verbs), which is common in the South, is not found in
our text.
The past participle, drayne = (drawn), 859, 1997, 2164, 3014,
3325, is also characteristic of the North (cp. *Sir Tristrem,' *Sir
Degrevant,' * Octavian B '). For the rest, the ending '{e)n is found in
the following forms fixed by rime: borne, 3115, 3335, 3553, 3741 ;
lome, 3117, 3331, 3551,. 3739; forlome, 3209; sene, 522, 550, 691,
etc.; bene, 524, 1588, 1734, etc.; done, 370; goone, 3113. On the
other hand, we have as past part, he, 3641 ; agoo, 149 ; take, 582. —
The prefix -i of the past participle is found only in the following
cases : imanased, 479 ; {wounded, 934 ; ihente, 1035 ; ibrowghie,
1093; idlghte, 610, 970, 972 ; irade, 2651. In each of these cases
the prefix, being required by the metre, is evidently due to the poet.
The following words also indicate Northern or North Midland
origin: /ow« (= few), 2378, and sitte (sytte), 497, 870, from O.N.
syti (= sorrow). Somewhat less significant are dede (= death), 911,
and tin{= to), 191, 837, 1786, etc. Of more force, perhaps, is to in
conjunctive use ( = until), 374, 3437, although from its nature it does
not occur in rime. The words, sprente ( = spmng), 1846, 1949, 3357,
etc.; glente, 3493; \)ro, 589, 1526, 2389, etc.; lai/ne, 989, 1108,
2650, etc., belong also to the more Northern dialects.^ To these the
words btisk and graytlie and bai/ne, all three of Scandinavian origin,
should probably be added.
As regards final e, of course, not all such -e's which we find in
^ Cp. 6. Sarrazin*8 edition of * Octavian ' (Heilbronn, 1885), Introduction,
pp. xxxvli f.
xxiv § 3. Reasons f 01' assuming a Midland origin for the Poem.
our text are due to the poet. Nevertheless, the rhythm constantly
requires the pronunciation of the final -e. On the other hand, the
following rimes seem to show that it was not always pronounced :
1792ff. sane : vppon :fone : mone-, 2062 ff. come : sone : vppon : done)
2445 ff. wone : on : mone : sone ; 146 ffl newe : show (for sTwwe) :
heice : kneto ; 593 ff. sheice : knew : newe : dreice (in this instance,
however, kneto may stand for knewe, the subj.) ; 2396 K he : me :
the : bye ; 2126 ff. ascrye : by : why : cowardly ; 809 ff. day : atpay :
Zay :i>%e (similarly 728 ff.) ; 2954 ff., Mordreid : rede ; 2653 ff,
sped (p.p.) : wede : nede : Ze^. Especially frequent are the rimes of
the pret. ind. mighte with knight, 161, 583, 616, 872, bright, 841,
light, 583, 708, sight, 616. There is always the possibility of a
slovenly rime in such cases, but on the whole it can hardly be
doubted that our poet often did not sound his final Vs.
It is a peculiarity of our text ^ that the rimes seem often to
require as a plural form, knight (also once nght, 2720) as in 677,
919, 925, 1048, 1480, etc. Such a plural form for this word, how-
ever, as far as I am aware, is not found in any dialect, and one is at
a loss to explain whether we have here simply an arbitrary change of
the grammatical form for the sake of rime or whether the poet's own
form was the usual knightis, so that in such cases we have simply
bad rimes as in 812, nakyd : make; 529, lyff : swithe, etc. The
latter is, of course, more likely.
From the above it will be seen that the language of the poet as
distinguished from that of the scribes abounds in peculiarities of the
Northern dialect. The representation of O.E. a by 6 (except where
r follows) everywhere in the forms fixed by rime, and still more the
prevailing plural indie, endings in -e show, however, that the dialect
is Midland.2 In the absence of marked distinctions between the
East and "West Midland dialects ^ it is difficult to say to which group
the language of our poet belonged, but in view of the form tase
( = takes), to say nothing of the forms of the 2 sing. pres. indie, not in
rime, the predominance of ande (not ende) as the pres. part, ending,
and lastly in view of the fact that the 2 sing. pret. ind. seems to have
ended like the first person, though only one of these forms is fixed
by rime, the "West Midland seems more likely. We should accord-
^ See the Preface to Dr. Fumivall's edition, p. xxiv, note.
2 Moreover the infinitives in -n do not belong to strictly Northern dialects,
nor do the past participles with prefix i.
3 See on this subject Morsbach, * Mittelenglische Grammatik,' Halle, 1896,
p. 15.
§ 3. Conclimons as to Dialect and Date of the Poem, xxv
ingly assign our poem to the Northern boundary of the I^orth-west
Midland region.
As regards the time that * Le Morte Arthur ' was composed, Dr.
Seyferth has cited (p. 58), the occurrence in our text of the words
fde, 6, 228, 2019, 2032, 2157, etc.; lede, 653, 2569; blee, 739, 3504,
3779, 3896; and wynne ( = come), 1830, as proof that our poem was
written before the end of the fourteenth century. Dr. Sarrazin has
observed 1 that these words had disappeared even in the Northern
dialects by the beginning of the fifteenth century. This would
accord with the general condition of inflexions in our poem, so that
one will hardly go wrong in placing our romance about the end of
the fourteenth century.^
The language of the scribes like that of the author of our poem
was Midland, of course, as our text shows. It is worthy of remark,
however, that the second scribe shows more Southern peculiarities
than could be attributed, as is evident from the above analysis, to the
poet himself, or, we may add, than are found in the work of the
first scribe. Thus in the portion of our text written by the first
scribe we find all forms of the plural pres. indie, ending in -e, where-
as we have in that written by the second scribe besides these prevail-
ing forms in -e ten instances of plural pres. indie, in -en and two in
-eth. Again, the portion written by the first scribe shows forty-six
forms in s for the 3 sing. pres. ind. and twenty-four in th, whilst
that written by the second scribe shows fifty-five instances of each.
It accords with this that the first scribe uses for the pronoun of the
third person plural exclusively the forms theym, theniy their, there,
whereas the second scribe has sixty instances of hem to thirty-one of
theym and them, and seventeen of her and hyr to twenty-eight of
their and there,^
§ 4. METRE.
* Le Morte Arthur ' is composed in stanzas of eight lines with four
accents to the line. The prevailing rhythm is iambic and the usual
rime-order is ab ab ab ab. This form of stanza is found in lyrical
poetry, as for instance in * Specimens of Lyrical Poetry,' ed. T. "Wright,
1 * Englische Studien,' vii, 137.
* Brandl in his article on Middle English Literature, Paul's * Grundriss II,
Abtheilung I,' p. 708, discusses our romance under the heading of fifteenth
century literature, but says nothing specifically about the date.
« C^. Seyferth, pp. 58 f.— also pp. 43, 61 f. I don't think that the
evidence is sufficient for us to assign these scribes so exactly as Seyferth does to
the East and South-east Midland respectively.
xxvi § 4. Metre, Defective Stanzas and inexact Bimes.
London, 1842, p. 99 ; * Alya Cantica,' 'Political, Religious and Love
Poems,' ed. F. J. Fumivall, E. E. T. S. 1886, p. 109), and the first of
'Laurence Minot's Poems' (ed. J. Hall, Oxford, 1897). It occais,
moreover, sporadically in the * Chester Plays ' (cp. The Fall of
Lucifer), and is the prevailing stanza form in the ' Legend of St
Gregory' contained in the Auchinleck MS. (ed. Fritz Schulz,
Konigsberg, 1876). The stanza was perhaps too exacting for the
writers of romances^ — at least I know of no other romance which is
written in it. The Prologue to * Thomas of Erceldoune' (see Brandl's
edition, Berlin, 1880) furnishes the nearest approach to it, but only
one of the three stanzas there conforms to the normal rime-order of
the stanza in * Le Morte Arthur.' Even in our romance we have
variations from this normal rime-order in the following stanzas : In
St. 365, 398, 421, 445, 478 we have the rime-order ab ab ac ac; in
St. 147, 372, ab ab ba ba ; in st. 1 ab ab cb cb.2
It is to be noted, moreover, that st. 46, 177, 186 contain only
seven lines, st. 187, 241, 291, 341, 393, 429, only six, and st. 462
only four. In all these apparently defective stanzas the sense
is complete in the text as it stands; nevertheless, it is probable
that in each instance except the last the lines necessary to make
up the full stanza were lost in copying. At the same time, it
would not be remarkable if a medieval poet of the minstrel class in
composing a poem which was intended practically only for recita-
tion should occasionally omit a line or lines either through inad-
vertence or through a momentary difficulty in supplying the full
complement of lines. In the case of st. 462 especially, which
contains only four lines, it seems to me in the highest degree un-
likely that anything stood between 1. 3681 and 1. 3682. And if
the poet has allowed himself here a stanza of four lines, why should
he not allow himself occasionally a stanza of six lines at any rate ?
The rimes in our poem are frequently inexact. Examples of some
of the more pronounced instances which cannot be set down to the
account of the scribes are as follows: 712 ff. lade : ledde : sade :
glade ; 761 ff. stone : tome : mone : twne ) 808 fP. sake : lake : ndhyd :
make] 2818 fp. Iiede : leiiyd : wavyd : levyd (though hede here may-
be for heaved) ; 2979 ff. cojne : croivne : towne : howne; 3224 ff. dyde :
^ Cp. on the subject of this stanza J. Schipper's *Altenglische Metrik*
(Bonn, 1881), pp. 346 f. There are variations as to rime-order in the * Coventry
Mysteries ' and the other poems which he cites.
^ Seyferth (p. 69) proposes to get rid of some of these irregularities by
changes in the text, but I don't think that thvia wanranted.
§ 5. Authorship. Belation of our poem to 'Iponiedon B! xxvii
stad'y 3288 ff. lese : cliese : pease : dayes, 3320 ff. caste : truste : fusfe :
praste; 3392 ff. breste : lode : caste : creste. Many other instances of
inexact correspondence of vowels in the rime might be cited, such as
2810 ff. socoure : indure : stoure : coloure. There are also many
instances where the consonants do not correspond ; e.g. 1380 ff. take :
lake : make : shape (similar 1468 ff.) ; 368 ff. sone : done : mone :
come (similar 2062 ff.); 2508 ff. by dene : hytwene : ^eme : by dene
(similar 2669 ff.) ; 2660 ff. lieste : pees : resse : Zese (also 2684 ff.) ;
3858 ff. land : found : wode : stroiid (where the first two words
should no doubt be emended to lond -.fond) ; 3272 ff. spede : hede :
lende : stede. Of especially frequent occurrence in our poem is the
riming of /(/), th and gh (labial, dental and guttural spirants) with
one another — so of ff with th in 529 ff. lyff : swithe : Mthe : blithe,
and similarly, 632 ff., 865 ff., 1561 ff., 1609 ff., 2015 ff., 3566 ff.,
3598 ff., 3699 ff.— of / with gh in 840 ff. thought : wrought : brought :
lofte (similar 1966 ff.)— of th and gh in 2677 ff. incmghe : treuthe :
boughe : inoghe.
I have already referred to the numerous instances where the
plural of knight ^ also disturbs the rime.
Finally it will be observed that our poet like most of the romance
writers makes a large use of alliteration in addition to rime. Accord-
ing to Dr. Seyferth's counting (p. 61) about forty-two per cent, of
the lines of our poem show alliteration — in all but a few instances
consonantal.
§5. AUTHORSHIP.
In a note to his discussion of the sources of Malory (p. 250, note
2) Dr. Sommer has thrown out the suggestion that *Le Morte Arthur'
is by the same author as * The Lyfe of Tpomydon,* also contained in
MS. Harley 2252. The only reasons he offers, however, for this
supposition are (1) that the * Lyfe of Ipomydon,' or * Ipomedon B,'
as it is generally called, is in the same handwriting as the first part
of *Le Morte Arthur' (11. 1-1091); (2) that the relation of * Le
Morte Arthur,' to the Prose-Lancelot (the source of *Le Morte
Arthur/ IL 1-1181, as Dr. Sommer holds) is the same as that of
* Ipomedon B ' to its source. With reference to the first of these
points, the fact that the same scribe copied the two romances is, of
course, no argument whatever for identity of authorship ; and with
lefeience to the second, since I have shown, as I believe I have, that
^ See note above, p. xxiv.
xxviii § 5. Differences of Vocabulary & Forms between the 2 Poems —
the Prose-Lancelot in its existing form is not the source of any —
part of ' Le Morte Arthur,* there is no basis of analogy in this case.
One may add, moreover, on this subject that apart from the
diflference in metrical form (* Ipomedon B ' is in short rimed couplets)
there are marked differences of style between the two works. In the
case of ' Ipomedon B ' the narrative is much more condensed than in
* Le Morte Arthur.' Then, the latter poem abounds in the usual
formulas of the romances to a far greater degree than ' Ipomedon B.'
Is not to Jiyde, etc., are pressed into service by the author of ' Le
Morte Arthur ' to an extent that is hardly exceeded in the case of
any of the other Middle English romances, whereas such expressions
are not particularly frequent in * Ipomedon B.'
Dr. Paul Seyferth in his dissertation on our poem^ has still
further called attention to the pretty frequent use which the author
oP'J^ Morte Arthur' makes of the words layne (= deny) and thro
( = bold, jfierce) in his rimes {layne thirteen times, thro twelve times),
whilst these words do not occur at all in * Ipomedon B.' ^ He points
out, moreover, that the form yode occurs in rime fourteen times in
* Le Morte Arthur ' (yede occurs twelve times), but in * Ipomedon B '
does not occur at all (yede occurs eight times). Still further, the
infinitive bene which occurs seven times in rhyme in *Le Morte
Arthur' does not occur at all in * Ipomedon B,' and sene (infinitive)
which occurs four times in rhyme in the former is not found at all
in the latter (although it has se sixteen times). On the other hand,
we find gone (infinitive) eleven times in the rhymes of * Ipomedon B'
{go ten times), but only go (twelve times) in * Le Morte Arthur.'^
In conclusion, we may safely assume that a poem which is so
completely in the usual romance style was the work of a professional
minstrel. The fact which Dr. Seyferth points * out that there is no
mention of minstrels in the poem cannot be allowed any weight as
against the evidence of style.
^ Sprache und Metrik des mittelenglischen strophischen Gedichtes * Le Morte
Arthur' und sein Verhaltnis zu 'The Lyfe of Ipomydon,' Berlin, 1896, see pp.
76 ff.
2 Dr. Seyfertli's statistics regarding the relative occurrence of words of
romance and Scandinavian origin in the two poems do not seem to me to have
much force.
3 Dr. Seyferth presents other statistics besides these, but the above points
are the telling ones, as it seems to me. It is safer, perhaps, not to use the
great number of examples of wes for was which he cites, since they are based on
changes in the MS. readings which at best must remain uncertain, especially
in view of our poet's tolerance for inexact rhymes.
* Page 77.
§ 6. The HarUian Romance & the alliterative 'Morte Arthure.' xxix
§6. STYLE.
Keaders generally will hardly go so far as Mr. W. W. Xewell in
prononncing our poem an "exquisitely beautiful work,"i yet I
should say for my own part that it is only the adverb which we
have a right to demur to here. Our poet lays himself open to criticism
most of all in the matter of rimes. As far as inexactness goes, he
has, of course, suffered much at the hands of his scribes, yet there
remain too large a niunber of instances which cannot thus be ex-
plained away. Worse than this, however, is his constant use of the
same rime-words, in which respect, owing to the exigencies of his
eight-lined stanza, no doubt, he seems to me to sin beyond what we
find elsewhere even in the Middle English romances. The ordinary
formulas of the romances, moreover, seem to me to be more fre-
quently repeated in this work than in any other. Such are the
special limitations of our poem, to say nothing of those which it has
in common with all Middle English romances. We have here, how- 1
ever, a famous and often lovely story told in a style of charming]
ndivetS which stands in striking contrast to the ornate and courtly !
prose of the Old French romances to which his originals belonged.
In the English poem indeed we breathe almost the atmosphere of
the ballad. Yet it is doubtful whether there is anything in the
Vulgate-Lancelot that brings home to our hearts more directly the
pathos of the tragedy of Guinevere and Lancelot than that exclama-
tion of the knights :
" Alias, they sayd, Launcelot du lake
That euyr shuldistow se the quene ! " (11. 796 f.) ^
The reputation of our poem has been eclipsed in a large measure
by that of the * Morte Arthure ' of the Lincoln MS. The many
problems connected with the origin of that poem which have given
rise to such prolonged controversy, and the fact that in parts it repre-
sents elements of Arthurian tradition which but for it would have
been lost, have drawn the attention of the learned world to it in an
unusual degree. It illustrates, moreover, that curious revival of
alliterative verse which is one of the most interesting phenomena of
fourteenth century literature in England. The Harleian * Morte
1 See passage (quoted iu note above, p. xv. Mr. Newell says even more
•nthuaiastically (* King Arthur and the Table Round,' II, p. 264) : " The noble
eondusion, scarce rivalled in its way in English literature, miJces a grand and
fitting close to Arthurian Story."
2 There are passages in the Vulgate-Lancelot corresponding to this, but*^*^
do not produce the same effect.
XXX § 6. T^ic Merits of the Harleian Romance,
Arthur * has none of these adventitious sources of interest, nor can
one claim for it the rush and vigour of the better-known romance.
On the other hand, it is free from the uncouthness which, as I think
even professional students will usually find, renders the reading at
one time of any considerable portion of the poem of the Lincoln MS.
a labour that is by no means light The main story and the episodes
our poem embraces, moreover, far surpass in human interest those of
the alliterative poem, as indeed is shown perhaps by the fact that it
is the material of the former and not of the latter which has entered
into the life-blood of English literature in later centuries. This
then, along with its quiet, simple beauty, constitutes the chief claim
of our old romance to consideration by the modem world — ^namely,
that it is the earliest work in English verse of all that have survived
to present the sorrows of the * Lily Maid of Astolat ' and the story
moreover of the end of the Table Round in just that form which
seems surest of immortality.
ft Porte %ti\nx.
[Harleian MS. 2252.]
(1)
Lordingis that ar leff And dere,
lystenyth and I shall you teH
By old[e] dayes what aunturs were
Amonge oure eldris fat by-felle :
In Arthur dayes, that noble kinge,
By-felle Aunturs ferly fele,
And I shaH telle of there endinge
That mykeli wiste of wo and wele.
(2)
The knightis of the table Eoundl,
The sangrayle whan they ha^ sought,
Aunturs that they by-fore them foundl
Fynisshid and to end[e] brought ;
Their enemyes they bette & bownd.
For gold? on lyff they lefte them noght.
Foure yere they lyved sound?,
Whan they had these werkis wroght,
(3)
Tille on a tyme pat it by-felle
The kinge in bed? lay by the queue,
Off Aunturs they by-ganne to telle.
Many that in pat lan(¥ had bene :
^* Sir, yif that it were youre wille.
Of a wondir thinge I wol(} you Inene,
How your courte by-gynnyth to spill
Off duoghty knightis all by-dene ;
(4)
Syr, your honoz^r by-gynnys to falle.
That wouwt was wide in world to sprede,
MORTB ARTHUR.
[leaf 86]
The poet is
going to tell
of aaventores
in Arthur's
days.
After the
quest of the
Holy Grail y^
was ended, *^
12 the knights
oftheftaund
Table lived
four years in
quiet.
16
20
Queen Gui-
nevere begins
to fear a
decline in
the renown
of Arthur's
24 Court,
2 By the Qiceen's advice Arthur proclaims a tournament.
aodadvUM
himtopco-
daim a
toomament.
Arthur hM
a tournament
at Win-
chester pro-
claimedin
which
Galehod is to
be leader.
Tlie knights
go to the
tournament,
but Lancelot
stays behind
to see the
queen.
Agraveyne
also stays
at home
Off launcelott and of other att
That euyr so doughty were m dede."
" Dame, there-to thy counseH I calle :
What were best for suche a nede ] "
" yiff ye your honoure hold shalle,
A tumement were best to bede,
(5)
For-why that Auntre shali by-gynne
And by spoke of on euery syde,
That knightis shali there worship wynne
To dede of Armys for to Hyde.
Sir, lettis thus youre courte no blynne
But lyve in honour and in pride."
** Certys, dame," the kinge said thenne,
" Thys ne shaH no lenger abyde."
(6)
A tumement the king lett bede,
At Wynchester shuldl it ])e,
Yonge Galehoc? was good? in nede,
The Chefteyne of the Crye was he.
With knightis fat were stiff on stede,
That ladyes and maydens might se
Who that beste were of dede
Thrughe doughtynesse to have the gre.
(7)
Knightis Arme them by-dene
To the tumemente to Kide,
With sheldis brode and helmys shene
To Wynne grete honoure and pride,
launcelot lefte withe the queue
And seke he lay that ylke tyde ;
for loue fat was theym by-twene
he made inchessoun for to abyde.
(8)
The kynge satte vppon his stede
And forthe is went vppon his way ;
Sir Agraveyne for suche a nede
At home by-lefte, for •oth to say,
28
32
36
40
44
48
52
5d
60
IjtaumLat poef iltdtker dag^dsed.
For mem to^ m nnnr b tbad^
Tkat lameekA W i^ queue Ixnr:
For tD tik« tiicmi wcub l^ dede
he Anjtee bo& uj'^tct and dxjr, M
(9)
Unto the cSianbTr to &e qnene.
And aette hjriii dovne Tpgn Lk kne
And SMkoEM diere that ladr ^lenc ^
**lxaDo^ioilt, wlutdcstoFw here wdi^ me!
The kinge b went and fe oooite bj-doie ;
I diede we sfaifi disoDiiesid be.
Off the kme is ts hr-twcne ;
1 — wiift «na
>«r«::
(10)
Sir i^nTBjne at home is he,
nyg^t & day he wajtes ts twa"
" Nay," he sayd, *• my lady fie,
I ne thinke not it shaH be so :
I come to take my leve of the,
Oate of oomte or that I go."
" ya swithe fat thoa Army<l be.
For thy dwellynge me is full woo."
80
(11)
launcelott to his chambyr yede,
Theie Biche atyie lay hym by-fore,
Aimyd hym in noble wede.
Off that Aimnie gentylly was shore ; 84
Sweidf and sheU were good at nede
In many batayles fat he had bore,
And horsyd hym on a grey stede
kyng Arthur had hym yeve by-fore ; 88
(12)
haldys he none highe way,
The knight fat was hardy and fre,
Bot hastis bothe night and day
Faste toward that Kicbe Cite, — 92
wi^ tiMltnt
toward
WInchHUr.
4 Arthur recognizes Lancelot.
^ Wyncbester it hight, for sothe to say, —
There the turnament shuld be ;
As he pMMg kinge Arthur in a casteli lay,
where Arthur FuH mycbe there was of gam) and gle. 96
(13)
[leaf 87, back] Foi-wby men wold launcelott by-bold,
to disf^se And be ne wold not hym-self shewe,
himeelf. ,/ ~t
Wyth his sbuldres gonne he fold
And downe he bangid bis hede fuH low, 100
As be ne might bys Iy7?imy8 weld ;
Kepit be no bugle blowe ;
Wele he semyd As he were old,
For-thy ne couth hym no man knowe. 104
(14)
The kinge stode on a toure on bigbte,
Sir Evway[n]e clepis he fat tyde ;
The king asks " Syr' evwayne, knowistow any wight
who the Tbis knight fat Rides here by-syde 1 " 108
^Jd^Evwi ®"^ Evwayne spekis wordis Eight
repuesitis xbat Ay is bend, is not to byde :
probably an J ' J
?ira^^^ " ^^y ^^ ^® ^^^ ^^^ knigbte
JiwSm^nt. Is come to se fe yonge knigbtw Ride." 112
(15)
They by-held bym bothe Anone
A stounde for the stedis sake ;
Lancelot's bis bors stomelyd at a stone
stumbles and That alle bis body there- wit/i gan shake : 116
the king and "^ o ^
Evwajme Xbe knight fan braundissbid yche a bone,
*^»™- As be the bridelle vp gan take ;
Tbere-by wiste they botbe Anone
That it was launcelott du lake. 1 20
(16)
kynge Arthur than spekis be
To sir evwayne there wordis Right :
** Welle may launcelot hold en be
Off alle fe world the beste knight 124
Lancelot is entertained hy the Lord of Ascalot.
Off biaute and of boante,
And sithe is none so mocbe of mygbt,
At every dede beste is he,
And sithe he nold it wist no wight,^ 128
(17)
Sir Evwayn, wiH we done hym byde ;
he wenys fat we know hym noght."
** Sir, it is better lette hym Ride
And lette hym do as he hath thoght ; 132
he wolle be here nere by-syde,
Sithe he fus ferre hedyr hath sought ;
We shalle hym know by his dede
And by the hors fat he hath brought." 136
(18)
An Erie wownyd there be-syde,
The lord of Ascolot was hight ;
launcelot gonne thedyr Ride
And sayd he wolle there dwell aH night ; 140
They resseyvid hym wit/i grete pryde.
A Riche soper there was dight ;
his name ^Bjme he hele and hyde
And sayd he was a strange knight. 144
(19)
Thanne had the erle sonnys two
That were knightis makid? newe ;
In fat tyme was the maner so,
Whan yonge knightis shuld sheldis show, 148
Tille fe friste yere were agoo.
To here Armys of one hewe,
Rede or white, yelew or bloo ;
There-by men yonge knightis knew. 152
(20)
As they satte at there sopere,
launcelot to the erle spake thare :
" Sir, ys here Any Bachelere
That to the tumament wolle fare V 156
1 MS. might.
Artlmr
wishes to
detain him
batisdis-
[leaf88]
Buaded.
Lancelot
rides to the^
dwelling of
the lord of
Ascalot and
is well re-
ceived.
This lord had
two sons,
recently
knighted,
and, as with
other young
knights in
the first
vear of
kniffhthood,
their arms
were of one
colour.
Lancelot
inquires
whether there
is any young
bachelor
6 Zamcelot horrtncs armour and is l&ctd hy tiu Maid qfAscaici,
tbcr* who is ''I haue two sonnys that me is dere,
««««»«*• And now that oonn« is seke f uH sare :
ThelordoT '
^^ So in companye f<it he were
■•JJ^J^ myne other s«jnne I woKt were thare." 160
(21)
'* Sir, and thy sonne wille thedir Kight,
The lenger I woDe hjm abyde.
And helpe hym there w/tA aii my myght
[i«af88,i»ck3 That hym none harme shaH be-tyde." 164
** Sir, the semys a noble kn[i]ght,
Courteyse and hend, is not to hyde ;
At morow shall ye dyne and dight^
Togedir I rede welle |«t ye Ride." 168
(22)
For the sake <* Syr, of One thinge I wolle yoii mynne
Lanoriot And be-seche you for to spede,
borrow a aait yif here were Any Armure Inne,
<tfunnoiir. *' ^ ^
That I might borow it to this dede." 172
The lord of « Sir, mv sonne lieth seke here-in :
Ascalot givei ^ , , . . , , . ,
him the Take his Armure and his stede :
armour of '
uliT" ^^^ ^^^ ^y sonnys men shall you kenne,
Off Rede shall be your bothis wede." 176
(23)
Tiie daughter Therle had a doughter bat was hym dere,
oftlielordof -ox ^ /
Asoaiot faiie Myketi launcelott she beheld :
in love with "^ '
Lancelot. j^yr Rode was rede as blossom on brere
Or floure fat springith in the feld ; 180
Glad she was to sitte hym nere,
The noble knight vndir sheld ;
Wepinge was hyr moste chere,
So mykeH on hym hyr herte gan held. 184
(24)
Vp than Rose fat mayden stille
And to hyr chamber wente she tho ;
Downe vppon hir bedde she felle,
That nighe hyr herte brast in two. 188
Lancelot rides forth to the ToumafKenL
launcelot wiste what was hyr wyH,
Welle he knew by other mo,
hyr brother klepitte he hym tylle
And to hyr chamber gonne they go ;
(25)
he satte hym downe for the maydens sake
vpon hyr bedde there she lay,
Conrtessely to hyr he spake,
For to comforte ))at fayre may ;
In hyr Armys she gan hym take
And these wordis ganne she say :
" Sir, bot yif that ye it make,
Saflf my lyff no leche may."
Lanodot
reeogniiM
tlMGUlMOf
h«r aoiTOW,
192
andtriwto
oomfonhtr.
196
When the
. - y. confesses
200 hsrlove.
(26)
"lady," he sayd, "thou moste lette,
For me ne giff the no-thynge Ille ;
In Another stede myne hert is sette,
It is not at myne owne wille ;
In erthe is no thinge that shall me lette
To be thy knight lowde and stille ;
A-nother tyme we may be mette
Whan thou may better speke thy fille."
(27)
" Sithe I of the ne may haue more.
As thoo arte hardy knight and fre,
In the tumement ])at thou wold here
Sum signe of myne fat men might se."
'* lady, thy sieve thou shalte of-shere,
I woUe it take for the love of the ;
So did I neuyr no ladyes ere
Bot one that most hathe lovid me."
(28)
On the morow whan it was day
They dyned and made them yare,
And fan they went forthe on there way
To-gedyr as they bretheme were.
hsssjsthat
hUhsurils
alxMdy glvtn
aw«y,Dut
that he
wiU b« her
204 kn*Kht.
208
212
He agrees to
wearher
sleeve as a
sign in the
toamament.
216
The next day
Lancelot
ridee Ibrth
with the
brother of the
Maid of
220 ^*^*^^^ ^
8 An aunt of Lancelot* s companion entertains them,
take part They mette a squyer by the way
toarnament. That frome the tumament gan fare,
And askyd yif he couthe them say
"NVhiche pa?'ty was the bygger thare. 224
(29)
" Sir Gralehodl hathe folke J?e more,
For sothe, lordingis, as I you telle,
Sft^ArtiJir'. -^^^ Arthur is the bigger there ;
KSSamiS? ^^ ^^^"^ knightis stiff and felle ; 228
[leaf 89. back] They Ar bold and breme as bare,
indudetthe _/ , , , , ,, „
best knights, Evwayne and boert and lyonelle.
Therlys sonne to hym spake thare :
" Sir, wit/i them I rede we dwelled' 232
(30)
launcelotte spake, as I you rede :
80, to win " Sithe they ar men of grete valour,
fehuf ^ ^^^ might we amonge them spede
side. There alle are stiffe & stronge in stowre 1 236
helpe we them fat hath most nede j
Ageyne the beste we shatt welle dore ;
And we might there do Any dede,
It wold vs tome to more honour." 240
(31)
launcelot spekis in that tyde
As knight fat was hardy and fre :
" To-night wi't/i-oute I rede we byde ;
The presse is grete in the Cite." 244
They decide « Sir, I haue An Aunte here beside,
to spend that
?h* it**°*t*^ A lady of swith grete biaute ;
M*aunTSf*^ Were it your wille thedir to Eide,
toightT ^^^ o^ vs than wol(J she be." 24a
Ascalot.
(32)
mne tl
cartieluad'are To the lady f ayre and bright ;
wen Feceived.
They |K> to Tho to the castelle gonne they fare,
Blithe was the lady thare
That they wold dwelle wM hyr fat night ; 252
Lanodot joins GaUhocTs paHy and fights.
hastely was there soper yare
Off mete and dnnke rychely dight.
Onne the moiow gonne they dyne & fare,
Both Luinoelott and fat other knight 256
(33)
Whan they come in-to )w fel(),
Myche there was of game & play ;
A while they hovid & by-held
how Arthurs knightis Eode that day.
Galehodis party by-gan to hel().
On f ote his knightis ar lacl away ;
launcelott stiff" was vndyr shekl,
Thinkis to helpe, yif that he may.
(34)
Be-syde hym come fan sir Evwayne,
Bieme as Any wilde bore ;
launcelott springis hym ageyne,
In Eede armys fat he bare ;
A dynte he yaff wtt^ mekitt mayne,
Sir Evwayne was vn-horsid thare,
That alle men wente he had bene slayne,
So was he woundyd wondyr sare.
Attbetoor-
Uwimt day
th^ assist
GiOchod's
putj which
260 CtonfM]
isbMnff
worstecL
264
268
In the conflioi
Lancdot
unhorsM
Evwayne.
272
(35)
Sir boerte thoughte no-thinge goodi,
Whan Sir Evwayne yn-horsid was ;
Forthe he springis as he were wode
To launcelot, wM-outen lees ; 276
launcelot hytte hym on the hode,
The nexte way to ground he chese ;
Was none so stiff agayne hym stode,
Fulle thynne he made the thikkest prees. 280
(36)
Sir lyonelle be-ganne to tene
And hastely he made hym bowne,
To launcelott witJi herte kene
he rode with helme and 8werd[e] browne ; 284
He also
unhorses
Boerte
10
Lancelot is wownded by Ector,
launcelott hitte hyni, as I wene,
Througbe the belnie in-to fe Crowne,
That euyr after it was sene ;
and LyoneUe. Bothe hors and man there yede adowne ;
288
The IcnighU
afreethat
tiiis muat be
Lancelot, but
are puzzled
bjAe
Peaf90,back]
Ascaloteign
he
Ector now
aasails
Lancrtotand
wounds him.
Lancelot,
sorely hurt,
rides away to
a forest.
(37)
The knightis gadrid togedir thare
And gan vfitJi Crafte there counselle take ;
Suche a knight was neuyr are
But it were launcelot du lake ;
Bot, for the sieve on his Creste was thar,
For launcelot wold they hym noght take ;
For he bare nevir none suche by-fore
But it were for the quenys sake :
(38)
" Off* Ascolot be neuyr was
That thus welle beris hym to-day."
Ector sayd, wM-outen lees,
What he was he wold assay.
A noble stede Ector hym chese
And f orthe rydis glad and gay ;
launcelot he mette a-mydde fe prese,
By-twene them was no chi[l]dis play ;
(39)
Ector smote with herte good?
To launcelot that ilke tyde ;
Througbe helme in-to his hede it yode
That nighe loste he all bis pv'de ;
launcelot bytte on the hood?
That bis hors felle and be be-syde.
launcelot blyndis in bis blode,
Oute of the f eld f uH f aste gan Ride ;
(40)
Oute of the feld they Reden thoo
To a forest bighe and bore.
Whan they come by them one two,
Off bis helme be takis tbore.
292
296
300
304
308
312
316
Arthur pi'oclaims another tournament.
11
" Sir," lie sayd, " me is full woo,
I drede that ye be hurte futi sore."
" Nay," he sayd, "it is not so.
But fayne at Eest I wold we were."
" Sir, myne Aunte is here be-syde.
There we bothe were aH nighte ;
Were it youre wille thedir to Eide,
She wolle us helpe with all hyr might,
And send for lechis this ylke tyde,
youre woundis for to liele and dight ;
And I my-self wille with you abyde
And be youre servante and youre knight.*'
(42)
To the castelle they toke the way.
To the lady f ayre and hend ;
She sent for lechis, as I you say.
That wonnyd bothe ferre and hendl.
But by the morow that it was day
In bed he might hym-self not wend ;
So sore woundyd there he lay
That well nighe had he sought his end.
(43)
Tho kinge arthur with myketi pnde
Callid his knightis ali hym by
And sayd a mouwth he wold there byde
And in wynchester lye ;
heraudis he dyd go and Eide
Another tumamente for to Crye ;
^* This knight wolle be here nere be-syde,
for he is woundyd bitterlye."
320
He is per-
suaded to go
again to tbe
castle of the
aunt of the
young knight
324 ofAacalot.
Deaf 91]
328
There doctors
attend him.
332
336
King Arthur
has another
tournament
proclaimed
to draw forth
the strange
340 knight again.
344
(44)
Whan the lettres made were
The heraudis forth witJi them yede,
Throughe yngland for to fare.
Another tumament for to bede ;
348
12 Lancelot's wounds prevent him from going.
Bad them buske and make them yare
Alle that stiff were on stede.
Thus these lettris sent were
To tho that doughty were of dede, 352
(45)
Tille on a tyme )»at it be-felle
A herald with An heraude comys by the way
iwwsofthe . , , „ . , , „
toarnament And at the castelle a night gan dwelle
comas to the "
iIlS«io?ir There as launcelot woundyd lay, 356
*y**'«f* And of the turnamente gon telle
That shulcl come on the sonday.
launcelot sighes wondyr stille
And sayd : " alias and weti-a-way ! 360
(46)
[leaf 91, back] Whan knightis wynne worship and prtde,
Som Auntre shati hold me a-way,
As a coward for to a-byde.
Lancelot This tumamente, for sothe to say, 364
vows that he . . , , . „ , J^
will go to the for me IS made this ylke tyde :
tournament, •' •^ '
Thoughe I shuld dye this ylke day,
Certis I shaUe thedyr Ride." 367
[ no gap in the MS,] Z^7 b
m
The leche Aunswerd also sone
thouffhthe And sayd : ** syr, what haue ye thought %
fsS'^^^H -A^lle the Crafte that I haue done
be his death,
I wene it wille you helpe Right noght. 371
There is no man vndir tlie mone,
By hym fat ati this world hath wroght,
Might saue youre lyff to that tyme come
That ye vpon your stede were brought ! " 375
(48)
" Certis, though I dye this day.
In my bedde I woUe not lye ;
Yit had I levir do what I may
Than here to dye thus cowardelye." 379
A herald brings to cotirt news of his condition. 13
The leche anone than went his way
And wold no lenger dwelle hym by ;
his wouwdis scryved and stille he lay
And in his bedde he swownyd thrye. 383
(49)
The lady wept as she were wode,
Whan she sawe he dede wold? be,
Therlis sonne with sory mode
The leche agayne clepis he 387
And sayd : " thou shalt haue yif tis goodi,
For-why fat thou wilte dwelle with me."
Craftely than stauwchid he his blode
And of good comforte bad hym be. 391
The physician
foes away,
at when
Lancelot's
agitation
causes his
wounds to
break open,
he is per-
suadea to
return.
(50)
The heraude than wente on his way
At morow whan the day was light
Also s withe as euyr he may
To Wynchester that ylke night ;
he saluecJ the kinge, for soth to say —
By hym satte syr Evwayne the knight —
And sithe he told upon his playe
What he had herd and sene with sight :
(51)
** Off alle fat I haue sene with sight
Wondir thought me nevir more
ThsLnne me dy^ of a folyd knight
That in his bed? lay woundid sore ;
he myght not heve his hede vp-Kight
For alle the world haue wonne thare ;
For Angwisshe fat he ne Kide myght
Alle his woundis scryved were."
(52)
Sir Evwayne than spekis wordis fre
And to the kynge sayd he there :
" Certis, no cowarde knight is he ;
Alias ! that he nere hole and fere !
The herald
goes back to
Winchester,
395
399
[leaf 92]
and tells of
the wounded
knight who
was so eager
to ride in the
tournament.
403
407
Evwayne
guesses that
It is the
strange
knight of the
last tourna-
411 ment.
14 The toui'nament proclamation is repealed.
Welle I wote J?at it is he
That we alle of vnhorsyd were.
the turnament is beste lette be,
For sothe that knight may not come there."
415
It U decided
that the
tournament
which had
been pro-
daimed shall
not be held,
and the king
goes to
Camelot.
(53)
There tumement was than no more
But this de^Ktrtith alle the prese.
knightis toke there leve to fare,
Ichone his owne way hyin chese.
To kamelot the kynge went there,
There as quene gaynore was ;
he wente haue found launcelot thare ;
A- way he was, wztA-outen lese.
419
423
(54)
Launcelot sore woundyd lay ;
knightis sought hym futi wyde.
Therle sonne night and day
Was alle-way hym be-syde ;
When Lance- Therle hym-sclf whan he ryde may
enough. Brought hym home with myketi pn'de
the lord of And made hym bothe game & play
Ascalot takes "^ ^ *^ •'
him to his Tille he might* bothe go and Ryde.
(55)
[leaf 92, back] Bocrte and lyonelle than sware,
and at the kinge there leve toke there,
Ageyne they wold come nevir mare
Till they wiste where launcelot were.
Ector went with them thare
To seche his brodyr fat hym was dere.
many a land they ganne through fare
And sought hym bothe ferre and nere,
(56)
Tille on a tyme fat it by-felle
That they come by that ylke way.
And at the castelle at mete gan dwett,
There as launcelott* woundyd lay ;
Boerteand
Lyonelle go
forth to seek
Lancelot.
So does Ector
too.
They come
to Ascalot
and find
Lancelot
walking on
thew
427
431
435
439
Ingon
rails. J
443
BoertCy Zyonelle and Ector find Lancelot 15
launcelot they saw, as I you telle
Walke on the wallis hym to play ;
On knees for loye ati they felle,
So blithe men they were that day. 447
(57)
Whan launcelott saw tho ylke tbre
That he in world[e] louyd beste,
A merier metinge might no man se,
And sithe he ledde them to Eeste. 451
Therle hym-self, glad was he,
That he had gotten siche a geste ;
So was the mayden feyre and fre
That alle hyr lone on hym had keste.
(58)
Whan they were to soper dight,
Bordis were sette and clothis spradde,
Therlis doughter and the knight
To-gedir was sette, as he them badde,
Therlys sonnys fat bothe were wight
to serue them were nevir sadde.
And therle hym-selfe vriih alle his mygh[t]
To make them bothe blyth and gla($. 463
(59)
Bot Boert, euyr in mynd? he thoghte
That launcelot had bene woundyd sore.
** Sir, were it your wille to hele it noght
Bot telle where ye thus hurte were 1 " 467
" By hym fat alle this world hath wrought,"
launcelot hym-self swore,
•* The dynte shall be fuH dere bought,
yif euyr we may mete vs more ! " 471
(60)
Ector ne liked that no wight,
%e wordis that he herd there ;
For sorow he loste both strength & might ;
The colours changid in his ley re. 475
All rejoice at
thb meeting.
455
At supper
that night
Boerteasks
Lancelot
where he
received hb
459 ^®'*"'*»
QeafdS]
Lancelot
V0W8 venge-
ance for the
veound.
Ector (who
had woanded
him) is
alarmed i^t
this.
16
Lancelot karns who reminded him.
Lancelol now
Icttrntwbo
g«Y«him Um
woqimL
Lyonelle and
BoerteJMt
aboattLe
wounds thej
too had
receiTed,
and Lancelot
reuMuret
Kotor, saying
that )ie loves
him all the
better for the
proof of
strength he
has ^veu.
[leaf 93, back]
Lyonelle,
Boerte and
Ector return
tocourtt
Boerte than sayd these wordis Eight :
** Ector, thou may makeyvelle chere;
For sothe it is no coward knight
That thou arte of I-manased here." 479
(61)
** Ector/' he sayd, "where thou it were
That woundid me thus wondir sore 1 "
Ector, auNswerd with symple chere :
'* lord, I ne wiste |wtt ye it wore, 483
A dynte of you I had there,
felyd I nevir none so sore."
Sir lyonelle by god ^n swore
That " myne woUe sene be euyr more." 487
(62)
Sir Boerte tlian answerd as tyte
As kuight J>at wise was ^'ndir wede :
" I hope fat none of vs was quite,
I had oon J>at to ground I yede. 491
Sir, your brod}T shati ye not wite,
now knowes either others dede ;
now know ye how Ector can smyte
To helpe you whan ye haue nede." 495
(63)
launcolot loughe wit^ herte f re
That Ector made so mekiH Sitte :
" Brother, no tliinge drede thou the,
For 1 shalle be botlie liole and quite. 499
Though thou liaue sore woundiil me,
There-of I shaH the nevir wite ;
Bot euyr the better loue 1 the,
Such a dynte that thou can smyte." 503
(64)
Than vppon the thrit^ day
They toke there leve for to fare.
To the courte they wille away,
For lie wille dwelle a while thare. 507
The knights bring to cmcrt news of Lancelot. 17
** Grete welle my lorde, I you pray,
And telle my lady how I fare,
And say 1 wylle come whan I may ;
And byddith hyr longe no-thinge sare."
(65)
They toke there leve, w^t7i-outen lees,
And wightely wente vppon there way ;
To the courte the way they chese.
There as the quene Genure lay.
The kinge to the foreste is
With knightis hym for to play ;
Good space they had with-outen prese
There eran^ to the quene to say.
taking mes-
sages from
Lancelot.
511
515
Wljen they
arrive,
the king is in
tlie forest.
519
(66)
They knelytP downe by-fore the quene,
The knightis fat were wise of lere,
And sayd they had launcelot sene
And thre dayes with hym were.
And how fat he had woundyd bene.
And seke he had lye full sore.
'* Or ought longe ye shaH hym sene ;
he bad you longe no thynge sore."
They give
the queen
news of
Lancelot,
523
527
(67)
The quene loughe with herte fre
Whan she wiste he was on lyff.
'* 0, worthy god, what wele is me !
Why ne wiste my lord it also swithe ! " 531
To the foreste rode these knightz^ thre.
To the kinge it to kithe ;
Ihesu criste fan thankis he
For was he nevir of word so blithe. 535
and she
rejoices tiiat
he is alive.
So do tlte
king and
Gawayne
when they
heai* it.
(68)1
he klepyd Sir Gawayne hym nere
And sayd : " certis, that was he
That the rede armys here ;
Bot, now he lyffis, welle is me."
MORTB ARTHUR.
[leaf 94]
539
18
Gavxiyne goes to Ascalot,
Gawayne
goes at once
to Ascalot,
bat before
he arrives
Lancelot
departs, to
the great
sorrow of the
Maid of
Ascalot.
He leaves
his own
armour
behind at
Ascalot. .
Gawayne
arrives
[leaf 94, back]
Gawayne answerd witA myld chere,
As he that Ay was hend and fre :
" Was neuyr tithandis me so dere,
Bot sore me longis laimcelot to se."
(69)
At the kinge and at the quene
Sir Gawayne toke his leve that tyde,
And sithe at alle the courte by-dene,
And buskis hym wttA mekyti pryde
Tille Ascalot, wttA-outen wene,
Also faste as he might Eyde ;
Tille that he haue launcelot sene
Night ne day ne woUe he byde.
(70)
By that was launcelot hole and fere,
Buskis hym and makis ali yare,
his leue hathe he take there ;
The mayden wepte for sorow & Care.
** Sir, yif that youre willis were,
Sithe I of the ne may haue mare,
Som thinge ye wolde be-leue me here
To loke on whan me longith sare."
(71)
launcelot spake wit/i herte fre,
For to comforte that lady hende :
" Myne Armure shati I leue w/t/i the
And in thy brothers wille I wend ;
loke thou ne longe not after me
For here I may no lenger lend?,
longe tyme ne shalle it noght be
That I ne shalle eyther come or send?.''
(72)
launcelot is Kedy for to Kide
And on his way he went forth Eight ;
Sir Gaweyn) come aftir on a tyde
And askis after suche a knighte ;
543
547
551
555
559
563
567
571
Gawayne recognizes Lancelot's shield.
19
They reseyved hym vfiih grete pnde,
A Kiche soper there was dight,
And sayd, in herte is noght to hyde,
A-way he was for fourtenyght.
(73)
Sir Gaweyne gon that mayden take,
And satte liym by that swete wight,
And spake of launcelot de lake ;
In alle the world nas suche a knight.
The mayden there of launcelot spake,
Said ati hyr lone was on hym light,
" For his leman he hathe me take,
his Armure I you shew[e] mighte."
(74)
** Kow, damysselle," he sayd Anone,
** And I Am glad fat it is so ;
Suche a lemman as thou haste oon
In aft this world ne be no mo ;
There is no lady of flesshe ne bone
In this world so thryve or thro,
Thoughe hyr herte were stele or stone,
That might hyr loue hald? hym fro.
(75)
But, damysselle, I be-seche the
his sheld? that ye wold? me shewe ;
launcelottis yif that it be,
Be the coloures I it knew/'
The mayden was bothe hend & f re.
And ledde hym to a chambyr newe ;
launcelottis shelfdl she lette hym se.
And aft his Armure forth she drewe.
(76)
hendely than syr Gawayne,
To the mayden there he spake :
" lady," he sayd, " wMouten layne.
This is launcelotteV sheldf de lake.
and is
hospitably
treated.
575
In convers-
ation witli
Gawayne the
Maid of
Ascalot
confesses her
love for
Lancelot, and
says that he
has taken
her as his
lady-love.
She cites the
possession of
583 ^^^^ armour
as proof.
579
587
591
At Gawayn&'s
request,
595
she shows
him Lance-
599 lot's shield
and armour.
Gawayne
603 S«i£ieldt
20 Gawayne returns to court
and says that Damessclle " he sayd, " I Am fuli f ayne
he is glad •' ' ''
[leaf 95] That he the wold to lewiman take,
has taken )ier And I With alle my myght and mayne
or^ is lady. 'W'ille he thy knight for his sake/' 607
(77)
Gawayne thus spake with that swete wight
What his wille was for to say
Tille he was to hed? I-dighte ;
Ahoute hym was ga?>ime and play. 611
He leaves he toke his leue at erle and knight
the next day, ^
knowin* ^^ ^^® morow whan it was day,
lmSi^ *"^ ^^^ sithen at the mayden brighte,
returns to ^^^ forthe he wente vppon his way. 615
(78)
he nyste where fat he mighte
ne where that launcelot wold? lencP,
For whan he was oute of sight,
he was fulle yvelle for to fynd!. 619
he takis hym the way Eight,
And to the courte gon he wendl ;
.^i»«rehe Glad of hym was kyng and knight,
received. ^qj. }^q ^yas bothe corteyse and hencP. 623
(79)
Than it by-felle vppon a tyde.
The kinge stode by the quene & spake,
Sir gaweyne standis hym be-syde,^
Ichone tille other there mone gan make 627
how longe they might with bale abyde
The comynge of launcelot du lake ;
In the courte was litelle pryde.
So sore they sighyd for his sake. 631
(80)
** Certis, yif launcelot were on lyff.
So longe fro courte he nol(J not be."
Gawayne Sir gawayne answerd also swithe :
tells at court „„ . t.-i.i.,! /.^^
that Lancelot " Therc-of uo woudir thmkith me ; 635
^ In tJie MS, this and the following line occupied the place
which is filled in this edition by IL 632-3. The scribe^ hoicever,
observed his mistake ami indicated the tiecessary correction.
The Queen gHeves at Laticelot's rcpm^ted infidelity. 21
The feyrest lady that is on lyff
Tille his lemman chosen hath he ;
Is noon of vs but wold be blithe
Suche a semely for to see."
(81)
The kinge Arthur was futi blythe
Off that tithingis for to lere,
And askid syr Gawayne also swythe
What mayden that it were.
" Therlis doughter," he sayd as s withe,
" Off Ascolot, as ye may here,
There I was made glaci & blithe.
his sheld the mayde shewid me there."
(82)
The quene than said wordis no mo,
Bot to hyr chambir sone she yede.
And downe vppon hyr bed? felle so
That nighe of witte she wold wede.
" Alias ! " she sayd, " and weti-a-wo !
That euyr I Aught lyff in lede ;
The beste body is loste me fro
That euyr in stoure by-strode stede."
(83)
ladyes that aboute hyr stode,
That wiste of hyr previte,
Bacf hyr be of comforte gode,
lette no man suche semblant se.
A bed? they made wtt/i sory mode,
There-in they brought that lady f re ;
Euyr she wepte as she were wode.
Off hyr they had fuli grete pite.
(84)
So sore seke the quene lay.
Off sorow might she nevir lette.
Tills it felle vppon a day,
Sir lyonelle and Ector yede
has chosen a
lady*love.
639
[leaf 95, back}
When Arthur
asks who
A 43 it is, he says
"* that it is the
daughter of
the earl of
Ascalot.
647
651 The queen
is almost
distraught at
the news of
Lancelot's
supposed
Infidelity.
655
659
663
667 Lyonelle and
^ Ectormeet
22
Lancelot returns to court.
Lancelot in
the forest.
[leaf 06]
who asks
after the
queen.
They tell
him that
both she and
all the court
are in great
distress at
his absence.
Lancelot
decides to
return to the
court with
them.
In-to the foreste, tbem to play,
That floured was and braunchid swete,
And as they went by the way,
With launcelot gonne they mete. 671
(85)
What woundyr was though they were blith
Whan they there master saw wtt^ sight !
On knees they felle also swithe
And ati they thankid god? aH-myght ; 675
loye it was to se and lythe
The metynge of the noble knighte.
And sithe he freyned also swithe :
" how fares my lady brighte % " 679
(86)
Than answerd the knightis fre
And said that she was seke f uH sare :
'* Grete doelle it is to here and se,
So mekylle she is in sorow and care ; 683
The kinge, a sory man ys he
In courte for that ye come no mare ;
Dede he wenys that ye be
And alle the courte both lasse & mare. 687
(87)
Sir, were it your wille w^t7^ vs to fare,
For to speke wtt/i the queue,
Blithe I wote wele that she ware,
yif that she had you onys sene.
The kynge is mekille in sorow and care.
And 80 ys ati the courte by-dene ;
Dede thoy wene welle that ye Are
Frome courte for ye so longe haue bene."
(88)
he grauntis them at that ylke sythe
home that ho wille Wit/t them Ride ;
There-fore the Icnightis were fulle blithe
And busked! them wit^ mykelle prtde 699
691
695
His interview taith the Queen. 23
To the courte also swithe ;
Nyght ne day they nolil abyde.
The kinge and alia the courte was blithe,
The tydandis whan they herde pat tyde. 703
(89)
The kinge stode in a toure on highe. The ung,
Be-sydes hym standis syr Gawayne ; tS^
launcelotte whan that they sighe, approwhinR.
Were nevir men on mold so fayne. 707
They Eanne as swithe as euyr they might
Oute at the gates hym Agayne ;
Was nevir tidandis to them so light.
The kinge hym kissyd and knight & swayne ; 711
(90)
To a chambei' the kynge hym laiJ ; fto^M^^
feyre in Armys they gon hym fold, reception.
And sette hym on A Eiche bedde Detf«e.back]
That spradf was witJi a clothe of gold ; 715
To serve hym was there no man sad
Ne dight hym as hym-self wold
To make hym bothe blithe and glad ;
And sithe Auntres he them told. 719
(91)
Thre dayes in courte he dwellid there . S^t for three
" days he does
That he ne spake not vfiih the queue : ^ttfffi^
So myche prees was Ay hym nere ; <!"««"•
The kyng hym lad and courte by-dene, 723
The lady, bright as blossom on brere.
Sore she longid hym to sene ;
Wepinge was hyr moste chere,
Thoughe she ne durste hyr to no man mene. 727
(92)
Than it felle vppon a day, At iMt,when
__ _ . ^^ , ^., Arthur le out
The kmge gan on huntynge Bide L""""ft
In-to the foreste hym to playe, JhSfbe?**" '
Wtt^ his knightis be his syde ; 731
24 The queen nj^h^aids Lancelot.
launcelot longe in bed? laye,
With the quene he thought to bydc ;
To the chamber he toke the way
And salues hyr vrith mekett pryde ; 735
(93)
Friste he kissyd? that lady shene
And salues hyr vflth herte fre,
And sithe the ladyes att by-dene,
For loye the teres BAWie on ther* ble. 739
She re- « Weti-a-wav ! " than sayd the quene,
S roaches him •^ ./ t. »
thelfaid if " launcelot, that I euyr the se !
Ascaiot. The loue fat hathe be vs by-twene
That it shali thus departed be ! 743
(94)
Alias ! launcelot du lake,
Sithe thou hast aft my hert in wold?
Therlis doughter that thou wold? take
Off ascaiot, as men me told? ! 747
Now thou leviste for hyr sake
AUe thy dede of Arniys bol^,
[leaf 97] I may wofully wepe and wake
In clay tylle I be clongyn cold?. 751
(95)
She begs him But, launcelot, I be-seclie the here,
at least to '
keep their Sithe it nedelynds shaft be so,
former tela- '' ° '
tione secret. That thou nevir more dyskere^
The loue that hathe bene be-twyxe vs two, 755
Ne that she nevir be witJi the so dere
Dede of Armys fat thou be fro.
That I may of thy body here,
Sithe I shalle thus be-leve in woo." 759
(96)
launcelot fulle stille than stode,
his herte was hevy as Any stone ;
So sory he wexe in his mode,
For Routhe hym thought it aft to-torne. 763
^ MS. discouyr.
Lancelot goes hack to the forest,
" Madame," he said, ** for crosse and Rode,
What by-tokenyth ali this mone %
By hym fat bought me w^t/^ his blode,
Off these tydandes know I none ; 767
(97)
But by these wordis thynkith me
A- way ye wold? fat I ware ;
Now haue good? day, my lady fre.
For sothe thou seest me nevir mare/' 771
Oute of the chambyr fan wendis he ;
Now whethir his hert was f uti of Care !
The lady swownyd Sithes thre
Almost she slew hyr-self[e] thare. 775
(98)
launcelot to his chambyr yede,
There his owne atyre in lay,
Armyd hym in a noble wede,
Thoughe in his hert were liteH play ; 779
Forthe he spronge as sparke of glede,
Withe sory chere, for sothe to say ;
Vp he worthis vppon his stede
And to a foreste he wendis a-way. 783
25
Lancelot does
not under-
stand, and
in anger
he goes back
to the forest.
(99)
Tithyngis come in-to the halle
That launcelot was vppon his stede ;
Oute than Eanri^ the knightis alle,
Off there witte as they wold wede ;
Boerte de Gawnes and lyonelle
And Ector that doughty was of dede
Folowyn hym on horsys snelle,
Fulle lowde gonne they blowe and grede.
[leftf97,tMK'k]
The VrAgUU
787 tokehim
r9i
(100)
There might no man hym ovir-take,
he Eode in-to a forest grene ;
Moche mone gonne they make
The knighti8 that were bold and kene. 795
but do not
soct-eed.
26 The court gi^ieves at Lancelot's departure
They blame " Allas ! " they savd, " launcelot du lake,
the queen for
Ilia leaving That euvp shuldistow se the quene !
the court . , , , , 4. 1 . ,
•««*«. And hyr they ciirsyd for Jus sake
That euyr loue was them by-twene. 799
(101)
They ne wiste nevir where to fare
Ne to what land fat he woldf ;
Ageyne they went witZt sighyng sare,
The knightis fat were kene & bold? ; 803
and she her- The Quene they found in swownyng thare,
selfisindeep , ^ , ^^ „ ^ ,*
diutrees. hyr coDiely tresses all vnfola ;
They were so full of sorowe & Care
There was none hyr comfort wolcJ. 807
(102)
The kinff The kvnge than hastis hym for his sake
hastens home •^ ° "^
and learns And home fan come that ylke day,
that Lancelot ' ./ ^ /
is gone. A,j(j[ asked after launcelot du lake,
And they sayd : "he is gone away." 811
The quene was in hyr bed ati nakyd,
And sore seke in hyr chambyr lay,
So moche mone the kynge gon make,
There was no knight fat lust to playe. 815
(103)
He laments The kinge klepis Gawayne fat day
will never And alle his sorow told? hym tylle :
stay at *i j
[leaf 96] " Now ys lauucelot gone A-way
*^" * And come, I wote, he nevir wille." 819
he sayd " allas and wellaway ! "
Sighed sore and gaflf hym ylle :
" The lord that we have lovid att-way.
In courte why nylle he nevir dwelle ! " 823
(104)
Gawayn spekis in that tyde
And to the kynge sayd? he there :
Gawayne « Sir, in this castclle shatt ye byde,
offers to go j j '
Comforte you and make good chere, 827
The Qioeen poisons a Scotch knight.
27
And we shaH bothe go and Ride
In all landis f erre and nere ;
So preuely he shall hym not hyde
Throughe happe that we ne shall of hym here." 831
(105)
r T^ "Inyghtis than sought hym wide,
I rV J OfE launcelot myght they not here,
Tylle it felle vppon a tyde,
quene Genure, bright as blossom on brere,
To mete is sette that ylke tyde,
And syr Gawayne satte hyr nere,
And vppon that other syde
A scottysshe knight pat was hyr dere.
in search of
him.
835
839
(106)
A squyer in the courte hath thought,
That ylke day, yif that he myght,
With a poyson pat he hath wrought
To slae Gawayne, yif that he mighte ;
In frute he hath it forthe brought
And sette by-fore the quene bright ;
An Appille ouereste lay on lofte.
There the poyson was in dighte,
(107)
For he thoughte the lady bright
Wold the beste to Gawayne bede,
'But she it yaff to the scottisshe knight,
For he was of an vnkouth stede.
There-of he ete a lyteii wight,
Off tresouw toke there no man hede ;
There he loste both mayne and might
And died! sone, as I you Rede.
(108)
They nyste what it myght by-mene,
But vp hym sterte syr Gawayne,
And sithen aii the courte by-dene,
And ouyr the bord they haue hym drayne.
Sometime
after this
a squire tries
to xMison
Gawayne by
means of au
843 apple*
847
851
bat the queen,
not knowing
that-it was
poisoned,
gives it to a
Scotch knight
[leaf 96, back]
who dies
firomit.
855
859
28
The knight's hvther leaims of it.
She UmenU
the accident.
The dead
kniffht is
buried in a
chapel in the
forest, and on
hU tomb it is
inscribed
that the
queen had
slain him
with poison.
" Wellaway ! '* than sayd the cjuene,
** Ihe^u Criste ! what may I sayne !
Certis, now witt ali men wene
My-self that I the knight haue slayne.**
(109)
Triacle there was anone forth brought,
The queue wende to save his lyff,
But aH that myght helpe hym noght,
For there the knight is dede as s withe ;
So grete sorow the queue than wrought,
Grete doele it was to se and lythe ;
" lonlf, suche syttes me haue sought !
Why ne may I nevir be blithe ! "
(110)
Knyghtis done none other myght,
Bot beryed hym wit/i doele I-noughe,
At a chapeti Yfiili Riche lyghte.
In a f oreste by a cloughe ; ^
A Riche towmbe they dyd? by dight,
A Crafty clerke the lettres droughe,
how there lay the shottysshe knyght
That queue Genure \fith poyson slough.
rafter
Shortly
this. Sir
Mador, the
dead knight's
brotlier,
comes to
court.
[leaf 99]
Being one
day m the
forest,
Af tyr thys a tyme by
To the courte ther^
his brodyr he was, as
And syr mador for
he was an hardy man
In turnamente and
And mykett louyd! in
For he was man of
(111)
felle,
come a knyght,
I you telle,
sothe he highte ;
and snelle,
eke in fight,
Courte to duelle,
myche myght.
(112)
Than it felle vppon a day,
Sir mador wonte wtt/i mekili pride
In-to the foresto, hym for to play,
Tliat floured was and bmunchid wyde ;
86a
867
871
875
879
88a
887
891
^ MS. swoiigho. / haw adopf/ttf here i:!eyiferth*s {p. 78) con-
jectnre. Op, L 893.
The Queen is to he pitt to death.
29
he found a chapeii in his way,
As he cam by a cloughis syde,
There his owne brodyr lay,
And there at masse he thought to abyde. 895
(113)
A Riche tot^mbe he found there dight
With lettres that were fayre I-noughe ;
A while he stode and Redde it Eighty
Grete sorow than to his herte droughe,
he found the name of the scottysshe knight
That queue Genure wzt/i poysouw sloughe ;
There he loste bothe mayne and myght
And ouyr the towmbe he felle in swoughe.
(114)
Off swownynge whan he niyglit awake,
his herte was heuy as Any lede ;
he sighed for his brothers sake,
he ne wiste what was beste Rede ; 907
The way to courte gan he take.
Off no-thinge ne stode he drede ;
A lovde Crye on the queue gonwe make
In chalengynge of his brothers dede. 911
(115)
The kyuge fulle sore than gan hym drede,
For he myght not be ageyne the Eight ;
The queue of witte wokl? nyghe wede ;
thoughe ^ pat she agilte had no wight, 915
She moste there by-know the dede,
Or fynde a man for hyr to fight ;
For welle she wiste to deth she yede
yif she were on a queste of knighti**. 919
(116)
Thoughe Arthui** were kynge f e land to weld',
he myght not be agayne the Eighte ;
A day he toke yfiih spere and sheldf
To fynd a man for hyr to fight, 923
^ In the MS, That is written at the beginning of this line — by
mistake.
he lights on
his brothei*'8
tomb
899
and swoons
when he
903 reads t,,e
inscription.
When lie
recovers,
he accuses
the queen.
[leaf 99, back]
Arthur is
obliged to
appoint a day
when the
queen shall
be put to
death.
30
Lancelot voics tliat he will avenge the queen.
onlcM she
finds a
champion.
News of sU
this conies to
Lancelot,
who has
heen again
wounded.
He swears
that he will
iivenge her
on the ap'
pointed day.
That she shalle eyther to deth hyr yeld?
Or putte hyr on a queste of knighttV ;
There-to bothe there handis vp-heldf
And trewly there trouthis plighte.
(117)
Whan they in Certeyne had sette a day
And that quarelle vndir-take,
The wonl sprange sone throw eche contrey
What sorow that queue genure ^nne make ;
So at the laste, shortely to say,
Word come to launcelot du lake,
There as he seke I-woundyd lay ;
Men tolil hym holly ali the wrake,
(118)
how that quene Genure the bright
had slayne vfiHi grete treasouTi
A swithe noble scottishe knight
At the mete YriHi stronge poysoun ;
There-for a day was taken Right
That she should fynd a knight f uH bowne
For hyr sake for to fighte
Or ellis be brente wtt/*-oute Eaunsowne.
(119)
Whan fat launcelot du lake
had hercl holly aH this fare,
Grete sorow gon he to hym take.
For the quene was in suche care.
And swore to venge hyr of that wrake
That day yif fat he ly vand ware ;
Than payned? he hym his sorows to slake
And wexe as breme as Any bare.
927
931
935
939
943
947
951
Deaf 100]
(120)
]ow leve we launcelot there he was,
withe the ermyte in the forest grene,
And telle we forthe of the case
That touchith Arthur the kynge so kene.
[N]"
955
A strange boat appears at Camelot,
Sir Gawayne on the mome to conselle he tase
And momyd sore for the quene ;
In-to a toure than he hym has
And ordeyned the beste there them by-twene ;
959
31
As the king
and Gawayne
are standing
in a tower
one day con-
aulliing about
the queen's
affairs.
(121)
And as they in there talkynge stode,
To ordeyne how it beste myght be,
A feyre liyuer vndyr the toure yode,
And sone there-in gonne they see
A lytelle bote of shappe fuH good?
To theyme-ward vfiih the streme gon te ;
There myght none feyrer sayle on flode
Ne better forgid as of tree.
(122)
Whan kynge Arthur* saw pat sighte,
he wondrid of the Riche apparrayle
That was aboute the bote I-dighte,
So Richely was it coueryd sanzfayle,
In maner of a voute wit/i clothis I-dighte,
Alle shynand as goldf as yt ganwe sayle.
Than sayd Sir Gawayne the good knight :
** This bote is of A ryche entayle."
(123)
" For sothe, sir," sayd the kynge tho,
** Suche one sawgh I neuyr Are ;
Thedir I Rede now fat we go ;
Som aventures shalle we se thare ;
And yif it be wet/i-in dight so
As with-oute or gayer mare,
I darre sauely say therto,
By-gynne wille auntres or ought yare."
(124)
Oute of the toure adowne they wente,
The kynge arthur & sir Gawayne ;
To the bote they yede witA-oute stynte,
They two allone, for sothe to sayne ;
963 they observe
a liitle boat
in the river
which flows
beneatli.
967
^They wonder
at the rich
furnishings
of the boat.
971
975
979
98^
and go down
to investigate
the matter.
987 [leaf 100, bk.]
32
In the hoot is the dead Maid of Ascalot,
They enter
the boat.
and on a bed
in it they find
a beautiful
girl lying
dead.
Gawayne
recognizes
lier as the
Maid of
Ascalot.
HeteUs
Arthur who
it is.
And whan they come there us it lente,
They by-hehl? it faste, is not to layne ;
A clothe that ouer the bote was bente
Sir Gawayne lyfte vp, and went in bayne. 991
(125)
Whan they were in, wtt/<-outeii lese,
Fuli Richely aEayed they it found',
And in tlie myddis a feyre bedde was
For Any kynge of Cristene londf. 995
Than as s withe, or they wold? sese,
The koverlet lyfte they vp with handl ;
A dede woman they sighe ther* was,
The fayrest mayde pat myght be found. 999
(12G)
To Sir Gawayne than sayd the kinge :
" For sothe dethe was to vn-hende,
Whan he wold thus fayre a thinge
Thus yonge oute of the world do wend* ; 1003
For hyr biaute wit/i-oute lesynge
I wold fayne wete of hyr kynd?,
What she was, this swete derelynge,
And in hyr lyff where she gonne lendf." 1007
(127)
Sir Gawayne his eyen than on hyr caste
And by-held hyr fast with herte fre
So that he knew welle at the laste.
That the mayde of Ascalote was she, 1011
Wliiche he som tyme had wowyd faste
his owne lemau for to be.
But she au?jsweryd hym Ay in haste,
** To none hot launcelot wold she te." 1015
(128)
To the kinge pan sayd sir Gawayne tho :
" Thinke ye not on this endris day.
Whan my lady the quene & we two
stode to-gedir in youre play, 1019
HtT utter to Arthur and his knights. 33
Off a mayde I told you tbo
That launcelot louyd paramoure Ay % *'
**Gawayne, for sothe," the kynge sayd tho,
"Whan thou it saydiste wele thinke I may." 1023 [leaf loi]
(129)
" For sothe, syr," fan sayd sir Gawayne,
" This is the may(J that I of spake ;
most in this world, is not to layne,
She lovid launcelot du lake." 1027
** For sothe," the kynge fan gon to sayne,
" me Eewith the deth of hyr for his sake ;
The inchesoun wold I wete full fayne ;
For sorow I trow deth gon hyi^ take." 1031
(130)
Than sir Gawayne, the good knight, They and on
Sought aboute hyr wM-oute stynte, v^^wn a
And found a purs f ulle Riche a-Righte, !«**«' ^n ^^
With gold and perlis pat was I-bente ; 1035
AH empty semyd it noght to sight. .
That purs full sone in hondf he hente,
A letter there-of than oute he twight :
Than wete they wold fayne what it mente ; 1039
(131)
What there was wreten wete they woldf ;
And sir Gawayn it toke the kynge
And bad hym open yt^ that he shol(J ;
So dyd he sone wtt^-oute lesynge ; 1043
Than found he whan it was vn-fold?,
Bothe the ende and the by-gynnynge,
Thus was it wreten, as men me toldl,
Off that fayre maydens deynge : 1047
(132)
o kyng arthur and all his kniffhti^ This letter is
fii ? , . ,1 -r^ * f, addressed to
That longe to the Round table, Arthur and
_,- , , , the knights
That corteyse bene and most of myghtig, «f t^e Round
Doughty and noble, trew and stable, 1051
^ MS. openyd.
MOBTE ARTHUR. T>
T
34 In the letter Lancelot is blamed.
And most worshipfuH in all fyghtt^.
To the nedefuH helpinge & profitable,
The mayde of Ascalot to Righti^
Sendith gretinge, wtt^uten fable : 1055
(133)
To you att my playnte I make
Deaf 101, bk.] Off the WTonge that me is wroghte,
But noght in maner to vndir-take
That Any of you ahold mend it ought ; 1059
Bot onely I say for this sake,
That, thoughe this world were throw sought,
Men shol(J nowhere fynd your make,
AH noblisse to fyude that myght be sought ; 1063
(134)
There-fore to you to vndirstand
fh®h*^di2d* That, for I trewly many a day
for love haue lovid lelyest in londf,
Dethe hathe me fette of this world away ; 1067
To wete for whome yif ye will foundf.
That I so longe for in langoure lay,
To say the sothe will I noght wourwJ,
For gaynes it not for to say nay ; 1071
(135)
To say you the sothe tale.
For whome I haue sutfred this woo,
I say deth hathe me take wttfe bale
wh5?s"ifrin ^^^ ^^® uoblest knight pat may go ; 1075
bu?JhiJii«h ^» ^°^® »^ doughty dyntis to dale,
of manners, g^ Ryalle ue SO fayre ther-to ;
But so churlysshe of maners in feld ne hale
Ne know I none of frende ne fo ; 1079
(136)
Off foo ne frend, the sothe to say.
So vn-hend of thewis is ther* none ;
his gentillnesse was all a-way,
AH churlysshe maners he had in wone ; 1083
Gawayne dcknowledges his error about Lancelot 35
For for no thinge pat I coude pray,
Knelynge ne wepinge with Kewfuti mone,
To be my leman he sayd euyr nay
And sayd shortely he woldf haue none. 1087
(137)
For-thy, lordis, for his sake
I toke to herte grete sorow and Care,
So at the laste deth gonne me take,
So Jat I might lyve na mare ; 1091
^For trew louynge had I suche wrake
And was of blysse I-browghte Aft bare ;
Aft was for launcelote du lake,
To wete wisely for whom it ware." 1095
(138)
When that arthure, the noble kyng,
had redde the letter and kene the name,
he said to gawayne, wM-oute lesynge,
that launcelott was gretly to blame.
And had hym wonne a Reproovyng
For euyr and a wikkyd fame,
Sythe she -deide for gre[te] louyng,
that he her refusydf it may hym shame. 1103
(139)
to the kyng than sayd syr gawayne :
" I gabbyd on hym) thys ^endyr day,
that he longede whan I gon) sayne
With lady other with^ som) othyr maye ;
bot sothe than) sayde ye, is not to layne,
that he nolde nought hys lone laye
In so low A place in vayne.
But on) a pryse lady and a gaye."
(140)
** Syr gawayne," sayd the kyng thoo,
** What is now thy best rede 1
how mow we with thys maydyn do 1 "
Syr gawayne sayd .: " so god me spede, 1115
^ With this line the second hand of the MS. begins,
2 MS. whith.
since he had
reftisedto
accept her
love.
"Deaf 102]
that is to say,
Lancelot.
The king
blames
1099 Lancelot.
Gawayne
acknowledges
that he was
wrong in
1107 having said
that Lancelot
had taken the
Maid of
Asoalot as his
lady*love.
nil
36 The Qtuen upbraids Gawayne.
Iff that ye wille assent ther-to,
They^ur- Worshippffully we sliulle hyr lede
her^uke a In-to the palys and bery her so,
daughur. As fallys A dukys doughter in dede." 1119
(141)
tber-to the kyng Assentid sone ;
Syr gawayne dyd men) sone be ^are,
And woi-shippfully, as feii to done,
In-to the palyse they her bare. 1123
The Unff ; the kvng than) tolde with-ont lone
tells tlie "^ °
she^a^Tied ^ ^^ ^^^ baions, lesse and mare,
SiSSX* ®' how launcelot nolde noughte graunte hyr bone,
ther-fore she dyed for sorow and care. 1127
(142)
^'felSel to *^ *^® quene than) went syr gawayne
thit'*sSt hJ" ^^ g^^ ^® ^^ ^y^ ^^ *^® ^^® •
ofLanoeiot* " *'^^ sothe, madame," he gon to sayne,
was fidse. « I ygi jg jjjQ gyiity Qf A trespas. 1 1 ai
I gabbyd on) launcelot, is not to layne,
of that I tolde you in thys place ;
I sayde that hys bydyng bayne
the dukys doughter of Ascolote was ; 1135
(143)
[ieafios,bkO off ascalot that m[a]yden) ffre,
I sayd you she was hys leman ;
that I so gabbyd it rewetfe me,
for Aft the sothe now telle I can) ; 1139
he nold hyr nought, we mowe welle se ;
For-thy dede is that white as swanne ;
thys lettere there-of* warannte woUe be ;
She playnethe on) launcelot to eche man)." 1143
(144)
The qaeen the queue was as wrothe as wynde
Gawayne And to syr gawayne sayd she than) :
what he had " For Bothe, Syr, thou were to vnkynde
to gftbbe 80 vppon) any man), 1147
The Maid is to he buried. 37
but thou haddyst wist the sothe in mynde,
Whether that it were sothe ore nan) ;
thy curtessy was AH be-hynde,
Whan thou thoo sawes freste began) ; 1151
(145)
thy worshippe thou vn-dediste gretlyche,
Suche wronge to wite that good knyght ;
I trowe he ne a-gulte the neuyr nought myche
Why that thou oughtiste w^t7^ no Ryghte 1155
to gabbe on) hym) so wylanlyche,
thus be-hynde hym), oute of hys syghte.
And, syr, thou ne woste not Ryght wiseliche
What hanne hathe falle there-of* and myght; 1159
(146)
I wende thou haddiste be stable and trewe
And fuH: of Aft curtessye,
bot now me thynke thy maners^ newe,
thay bene Att to^myd to vilanye, 1163
now thou on) knyghtis makeste thy glewe
to lye vppon hem for envye ;
Who that the worshippeth, it may hem) rewe ;
there-fore devoyede my companye." 1167
(147)
Syr gawayne than) slyghly wente awaye ; ST*!"*
he syghe the queue agreuyd sore ; she^faments
No more to hyr than^ wolde he saye SuUSS ^
Bot trowyd hyr wrathe haue euyr more, 1171 SnoenSng
the queue than), as she nyghe wode were,
wryngyd hyr handys and said : " weH-awaye !
Alias ! in world that I was bore !
that I am) a wreche welle say I may ! 1175
(148)
herte, Alias ! why were thou wode
to trowe that launcelot du lake
were so falsse and fykelle of mode
A-nother lemman) than) the to take 1 1179
^ MS. meners.
Lancelot.
38 Hu Qtieen has to find a cliampion.
nay, sertes, for Alle thys worldis goode
he nolde to me haue wrought suche wrake." 1181
[One leaf missing in the Manuscript here between folios 102
and 103. It probably contained an account of the burial of the
Maid of Ascalot, as the Vulgate-Lancelot does, and possibly
also details of Lancelot's life in the forest]
(165)
peafiM] To fynde A man) for hyr to feyghte 1318
to be^Ztl' Or elles yeld her to be brente ;
iK)t ftndT Iff she were on a queste of knyghtis, 1320
theappobitod Wele sche wiste she sholdf be shente ;
Thoughe that she agilte hade no wight,
No lenger lyffe myght hyr be lente. 1323
(166)
The king and The kynge than) sighed and gaffe hym ylle
Bors. And to syr gawayne than he yede,
gjtor to aid To bors de gawnes and lyonelle,
To estor that doughty was [in] dede, 1327
And askyd yif eny were^ in wille
To helpe hym) in that mykytt nede.
The quene one knes be-fore hem) felle,
That neyghe oute of hyr wite she yede ; 1331
(167)
The knyghtes answeryd wit^ lytett pnde,
her he[r]tes was full of sorow and woughe,
but tiiey Sayd : " aft we saughe and satte besyde,
ta^Su * **** ^^® knyght when) she wM poyson) sloughe ; 1335
And sythe, in herte is nought to hyde,
Syr gawayne ouer the bord hym) droughe ;
A-gayne the Ryght we wille not Hyde,
We saw the sothe verely I-noughe/* 1339
(168)
The queen The quene wepte and sighed sore,
Tv^u> ^^ ^^^ ^® gawnes went she thoo,
"* 1 MS. werere.
The knights refuse to defend the Queen.
39
1343
1347
but he says
that she
1351 onghttobe
burnt for
drivine
Lancelot
away.
1355
She goes then
to Oawayne,
On knes by-fcre hym) feii she thore,
That nyghe her hert braste in two :
" lord bors," she seyde, ** thyn) ore !
To-day I shall to dethe goo,
Bot yiffe thy worthy wille wore
To brynge my lyfEe oute of^ thys woo."
(169)
Bors de gawnes stille stode
And wrothe a-way hys yjen wente.
" Madame," he sayde, " by crosse on rode
Thou art wele worthy to be brente ;
The nobleste bodye of flesshe and blode
That euyr was yete in erthe lente
For thy wille and thy wykkyd mode
Out of* oure companye is wente."
(170)
Than) she wepte and gaffe hyr ille
And to syr gawayne than) she yede,
On knes downe be-fore hym) feHe,
That neigh oute of hyr witte she yede;
" Me[r]cy," she cryed loude and shrylle,
** Lord, as I no gilt haue of thys dede,
Yif* it were thy worthy wiHe
To-day to helpe me in thys nedel " 1363
(171)
Grawayne answeryd with litelle pride,
Hys hert was f uH of* sorow and woughe :
" Dame, saw I not And sat be-syde.
The knyght whan) thou with poyson). sloifghe 1 1367 but he says
And sythe, in hert is not to hyde, witness of
•^ "^ ' herguUt.
My-self e ouer the bord hym) droughe ;
A-gayne the Ryght wille I not Ryde,
I sawghe the sothe verrye I-noughe." 1371
(172)
Than) she wente to lyonelle,
That euer had bene her owne knyght,
On knes downe be-fore hym) felle
That neyghe she lost mayne and myght. 1375
1359
[leaf 108, bk.]
She next
beseeches
Lyonelle, but
he answers
in the same
terms as
Bors.
40
The Queen is deeply distressed.
She then
goes to Estor»
but he too
reluses.
[lMfl04]
" Mercy," she cryed loude and shrylle,
" lord, As I ne haue gilte no wyght,
Yif* it were thy worthy wylle
for my lyffe to take thys fyght ] " 1379
(173)
" Madame, how may thou to us take
And wote thy-selfe so wytteriy
That thou hast launcelot du lake
Brought oute of ower companyel 1383
We may syghe and monynge make
Whan) we se knightis kene in crye ;
Be hym) thatt me to man) gan shape
We ar glade that thou it a-bye ! " 1387
(174)
Thaii) fuH sore she gan) hyr drede,
Welle she wiste hyr lyffe was lome ;
Loude gon she wepe and grede
And estor kneles she be-fome. 1391
** For hym) that on the Eode gon sprede
And for vs bare the crone of thome,
Estor, helpe now in thys nede,
Or, certes, to-day my lyfe is lorne ! " 1395
(176)
" Madame, how may thou to us take.
Or how sholde I for the f eyght 1
Take the now launcelot du lake
That euyr has bene thyn) owne knyght ; 1399
My dere brother, for thy sake
I ne shaH hym) neuyr se with sight ;
Cursyde be he that the batalle take
To saue thy lyffe a-gayne the Ryghte ! " 1403
(176)
Ther wolde no man) the batayle take,
The queue wente to her chambyr soo.
So dulefuUy mone gon she make
That nyghe hyr hert brast in twoo ; 1407
Bors consents to fight for the Queen,
41
1411
1413 ft
1414
1418
For Sorow gon she sheuer and quake
And sayd : ** Alias and wele-A-woo !
Why nade I now launcelot du lake !
Att the curte nolde me noght sloo.
(177)
yuelle haue I be-sette the dede
That I haue worshipped so many a knyght,
[And I haue no man in my nede^]
For my lyffe darre take a fight,
lord kynge of AH thede I
That att the worlde shatt Eede and Byght,
launcelot thou saue and hede,
Sithe I ne shalle neuyr hym) se wttA syght ! "
(178)
The quene wepte and gaue hyr ylle;
Whan) she sawe the fyre was yare,
than) momyd she futi stiUe ;
To bors de gawnys went sho thare,
By-sought hym), yif it were hys wille,
To helpe hyr in hyr mekytte care ;
In swounynge she be-fore hym) felle,
That wordys myght sho speke no mare.
(179)
Whan) bors saw the quene so bryght,
Of* her he hade grete pyte ;
In hys armys he helde her vpe-Ryght,
Bade hyr of* good comfort be :
'* Madame, but there come a better knyght
That wolde the bataile take for the,
I shalle my-selue for the fighte,
Whyle any lyffe may laste in me."
(180)
Than) was the quene wonder blythe
That bors de gawnys woMe for her feyght,
^ A line is required here to make up the umal stamorform.
Its absence from the MS. is due^ no doubty to an oversight of the
scribe, Dr, Fumivall, referring to I 1670, has supplied the
Utu which I have adopted in the text. There can he little doubt
that the missing line had this form.
The queen in
her distress
wishes tor
Lancelot.
She again
beeeeclies
Bors for help
1422
1426
and this time
he promises
to be her
champion
unless a
better Icnigbt
1430 gK?
1434
The queen
rejoices.
42 Bors^ Lyonelle and Estor go to the forest.
That nere for loye she swounyd swythe,
But as that he her helde vp-Ryght ; 1 438
To hyr chambre he led hyr blythe,
To ladyes and to maydens bryght,
[leaf 104, bk.] And bad she shulde it to no man) kythe,
Tylle he were arm yd and redy dyght. 1442
(181)
Bors teiu the Bois, that was bolde and kene,
knights of ^ '
hi«^romh» Clepyd Afl hys other knyghtw,
And tokyn) conselle hem) be-twene,
The beste that thay couthe and myght, 1446
how that he hathe hyght the quene,
That ilke day for hyr to feyght
A-yenste Syr mador futi of tene,!
To saue hyr lyfe yife that he myght. 1450
(182)
and they are The knyghtw answerd wit/i wo and wrake,
anfOT with •' ° '
him. And sayd they wyste wetterlye
That *' she hathe launcelot du lake
Browght oute of* ouere companye. 1454
Nys non) that nolde thys bataile take,
Ei"^ she hade any vylanye,
But we nylle not so glad hyr make
By-fore we ne suffre hyr to be sorye." 1458
(183)
Bore, Bors and lionelle, the knyght,
Lyonelle and ' J6 >
to the foresr Estor, that doughty was of dede,
Jjjjv^tiieir Xo the forest than) went thay Ryght,
There orysons at the chapelle to bede, 1462
To oure lord god AH futi of myght
That day sholde lene hem wele to spede,
A grace to venquesshe the feyght ;
Of syr mador thay hade grete drede. 1466
(184)
There they As they Came by the forest syde,
meet Lance- mi n
lot' There orysons for to make,
The nobleste knyght than) saue thay Ryde
That euer was in «rthe shape ; 1470
Lancelot wUl he the Queen's champion.
43
hys loreme lemyd AH wit^ jw^'de,
stede and armure AH was blake ;
hys name is noght to hele and hyde,
he hyght Syr launcelot du lake.
(185)
What wondyr was thoughe they were blythe,
Whan) they ther mayster se vfiih syght !
On knes Felle thay as swythe
And thankyd AH to god AH-myght ;
loye it was to here and lythe
The metynge of the noble knyght ;
And after he askid Also swythe :
" how now farys my lady bryght ? "
(186)
Bors than) tolde hym) AH the Ryght,
It was no lenger for to hyde,
How there dyed a scottysche knyght
Atte the mete the quene besyde :
" To-day, syr, is here dethe AH dyght,
It may no lenger be to byde,
And I for hyr haue take the feyght ;
[ ' no gap in the MS,"]
(187)
Syr mador, stronge though that^ he be,
I hope he shaH welle proue hys myght."
** To the courte now wende ye thre
And recoumforte my lady bryghte,
[ ■ . . . .
. no gap in the MS^
Bot loke ye speke no word of me,
I wolle come as A strange knyght."
(188)
launcelot that was mochelle of myght
A-bydys in the forest grene ;
To the courte wente these othyr knyghtw
For to recomforte the quene,
^ MS. thonght tha.
1474
The meeting
is a Joyful
1478
1482
[leaf 105]
Bors tells
Lancelot of
the queen's
peril and of
his promise,
1486
1489
1489 &
but Lancelot
_ .__ says that he
1493 will be the
, . - _ _ queen's
14936 cnampion.
1493 c
1495
The knighU '
return to
1499 court.
44
The appointed day an-ivee.
On the ap-
pointed dfty
the kinff and
oaeen are at
the Uble,
when Sir
Mador
appears and
demands the
execution of
the covenant.
To make hyr glade with AH theyre myght ;
Grete loye they made hem by-twene ;
For-why she ne sholde drede no wyght,
Off* goode comforte they bade her bene. 1503
(189)
Bordes were sette and clothys sprede,
The kyng hym)-selfe is gone to sytte,
The quene is to the table lade,
With chekys that were wanne and wete ; 1507
Off* sorow were they neuyr vn-sad,
Myght they neyther drynke ne ete ;
The quene of dethe was sore A-drade,
That grymly terys gone she lete. 1511
(190)
And as thay were at the thryd mese,
The kynge and AH the courte be^dene,
Syr mador Att redy was,
With helme And shelde and haubarke shene ; 1615
A-monge hem AH: be-fore the dese
He blowetA oute vppon) the quene^
To haue hys Ryght vriih-outen lese.
As were the covenantes hem) by-twene. 1519
(191)
The kyng lokyde one AH hys knyghtw,
Was he neuere yet so woo,
Sawhe neuyr on hym) dyght
[leaf 105, bk.] A-yenste Sir mador for to goo ;
Syr mador swore by goddys myght.
As he was man) of herte thro,
Bot yif* he hastely haue hys Eyght,
A-monge hem) AH he sholde hyr slo.
The Icing
begs him to
wait.
1523
1527
(192)
Than) spake the kynge of mekelle myghtj
That Ay was cortayse and hende :
" Syr, lete vs ete, and sytheri) us dyght,
Thys day nys nought yit gone to the ende ;
1531
Lancelot in disguise appears as champion, 45
yet myght there come suche A knyght,
yif* goddys wyH were hyni) to sende,
To fynde the thy fylle of fyghte,
Or the Sonne to grounde wende." 1635
(193)
Bors than) loughe on lyonelle, ^ »e^«
Wyste no man of here hertys worde ; ^^^ "»«
hys chambyr A-none he wendys tylle
Wtt^-oute any othyr worde, 1639
Armyd hym) at AH hys wille
With helme and haubarke, spere and sworde ;
A-gayne than) comys he fuH stylle
And sette hym) downe to the horde. 1543
(194)
The terys ranne on the kyngis kne and the king
*' 1 rejoices tt
For loye that he sawe bors adyght ; ^"; .
Up he rose wit^ hert[e] free
And bors in armys clyppis Ryght, 1547
And sayd : " bors, god for-yelde it the,
In thys nede that thow wolde fyghte :
Welle Acquyteste thou it me
That I haue worshipped any knyght." ^ 1551
(195)
Than as Syr mador loudeste spake, but when
The quene of treson) to by-calle, again appeau,
Comys syr lanncelot du lake Lancelot
_ _ - T> 1 . 1 1 11 rides int« the
Kydand Eyght in the haue : 1555 h»iia«the
•*;'=' ' champion,
hys stede and armure AH was blake, disguised.
hys visere ouer hys y^eii) falle ;
Many A man by-gonne to quake :
A-drade of hym) nyghe were they Alle. 1559
(196)
Then) spake the kynge, mykelle of myght, The king
That hend was in Iche A sythe : ?"i^**®'^'
" Syr, is it youre wille to lyghte,
Ete and drynke and make you blythe 1 " 1563
stand.
1
MS. knytht.
%rmdj
M lametia *rMd Sir Mmiar fy/U.
Lnnieeloc spftke » A ttnage knjgiit :
* I Ib»L zidL& hen of A fi^t ;
I eome to s&aie A kiifyw hue ; 1567
jcoefi bitthe the t^wne hj-MOt hjr ded js
TlttS ^e batke woiadiippid manj A knyght
And she hasbe no maal izi^ her nedys
Hunt for hjT hrfe due take a fight 1571
Thaa that hjr of treeon) gredjSy
Hastelr that thov be dji^te.
Gate of thr wiite )oii^ie that thou wedis,^
To^T thoa shah prone Afi thj myght" 1575
(198)
Than was Sjr mador Also hljthe
As f oule of day after the nyght ;
To hys stede he vente that^ Sythe,
As mail) that was of moche myght ; 1579
To the felde than Eyde thay swythe,
hem folowes bothe kyng and knyght^
The bataile for to se and lythe.
Sangh nevir no man) A stronger fyght ; 1583
(199)
Both knighta Vn-horsid were bothe knyghtw kene,
•w at first •'^ '
oDiioned, They metten wtt/i so myche mayne.
And sythe thay faught with sweidys kene,
Bothe on fote, for sothe to sayne ; 1587
In Alle the batailles that launcelot had bene,
With hard acountres hym A-gayne,
In poynte had he nevir bene
So nyghe hande for to haue be slayne. 1591
(200)
and the figiit There was so wondyr stronge A fyghte,
one, fote nolde nouther fle ne founde
frome loughe none tylle late nyght,
Bot gyffen many a \^futi wounde. 1595
^ MS. wendis.
^ MS. than. But that is reqtiired. Cp, 1, 1613.
Sir Mador is vang;imhed.
47
launcelot than) gaffe A dyhte wtt^ myght,
Syr mador fallys at laste to grounde ;
" Mercy," cryes that noble knyght,
Fore he was seke and sore vnsound.
but Mador
is at last
overcome.
1599
(201)
Thoughe launcelot* were breme as bore,
Fuli stoumely he ganne vp stande ;
dynte wolde he smyte no more,
hys swerd he threwe oute of hys hande. 1603
Syr mador by god than sware ;
" I haue f oughte in many A lande.
With knyghtis bothe lesse and mare.
And neuyr yit er' my mache I fonnde ; 1607
(202)
Bot, Syr, A prayer I wolde make,
For thynge that ye lone moste on lyfe
And for oure swete lady sake,
youer name that ye wolde me kythe."
launcelot gan hys viser vp take
And hendely hym) shewed that sythe.
Whan) he saughe launcelot du lake.
Was neuyr man) on molde so blythe :
(203)
**lord," thane said he, " welle is me,
Myne Auauntement that I may make
That I haue stande on dynte of the
And fougliteu) wtt7& launcelot du lake ;
My brother's dethe for-geffen be
To the queue for thy sake."
launcelot hym) kyste wet/i herte fre
And in hys armys gau hym) vp take. 1623
(204)
Kynge Arthur than) loude spake
A-monge hys knyghtis to the queue :
" Ja, yonder is launcelot du lake,
Yiff* I hym) euyr wtt/i syght haue sene." 1627
[leaf 106, bk.]
He pi-aises
the victor's
prowess,
and begs to
Icnowhis
loll name.
1615
He congratu-
lates liimself
tliat he oottld
stand up at
all against so
famous a
1619 ch<^°*P^oi>*
The king now
recognizes
Lancelot,
48 A squire confesses that he poiswied the apple.
Thay Ryden and ronne than) for hys sake,
The kynge and Alle hys knyghU* kene ;
In hys armys he gon hym take,
The kynge hym) kyste and courte hy-dene.
1631
and the queen
swoons for
joy.
The knights
Hre now on
friendly
terms with
Sir Mador.
They all ride
back to the
castle,
[leaf 107]
and under
torture a
squire con-
fesses that he
had slain the
Scotch
knight.
rr\Y
(205)
Ihan was the quene glade I-noghe
Whan) she saw launcelot du lake,
that nyghe for loy she felle in swoughe
Bot as the lordys hyr gan vp take.
The knyghtw AH wepte and loughe,
For loye as thay to-gedyr spake ;
Withe Syr mador, wtt/i-outen) woughe.
Full sone acordement gon they make.
(206)
It was no lenger for to A-hyde
Bot to the castelle thay Rode as swythe,
Withe trompys and Yri\h mykelle pryde,
That loy it was to here and ly the ;
Thoughe syr mador myght not go ne Ryde
To the curte is he brought that sythe.
And knyghtis vppon Iche A syde
To make hym) bothe glad and blythe.
(207)
The squeers than were takyn Alle
And thay ar put in harde payne,
Whiche that seruyd in the halle.
Whan) the knyght was witA poyson) slayne.
There he grauntyd A-monge hem) Alle,
It myght no lenger be to layne,
How in an Appelle he dede the galle
And hadde it thought to syr gawayne.
1635
1639
1643
1647
1651
1655
(208)
Sir Mador is Whan syr mador herde AR the Ryght,
That no gylte hadde the lady shene,
For sorowe he loste mayne and myghte
And on knees felle be-fore the quene ;
greatly die-
tressed at the
wrong he had
done the
queen.
1659
Agrawayne wishes to betray Lancelot and the Qtoee^u 49
laTincelot then liym helde vppe Ryghte
For loue that was them) be-twene ;
Hym kyste bothe kynge and knyght
And sythen) AH the curte by-dene. 1663
(209)
The squyer than was done to shende,
As it was bothe lawe and Eyght,
Drawen) and hongyd and for-brende
Be-fore syr mador, the noble knyghte. 1667
In the castelle thay gan forthe lende,
The loyus gard than was it hyghte ;
launcelot that was so hende
Thay honouryd hym yrith Alle ther ]|ij{^ 1.671
(210) ... ■;
Atyme be-felle, sothe to sayne,
the knyghtis stode in chamljT and spake,
Bothe gaheriet and syr gawayne
And mordreite that mykelle couthe of wrake : 1675
" Alias ! " than sayde syr A-grawayne,
" How fals men) schalle we vs make !
And how longe shalle we hele and layne
The treson of* launcelote du lake ! 1679
(211)
Wele we wote, wit^-outen) wene,
The kynge arthur oure eme sholde be
And launcelote lyes by the quene ;
A-geyne the kynge^ tra[y]tor is he ; 1683
.And that wote AH the curte by-dene,
And Iche day it here and see ;
To the kynge we shulde it mene,
Yif* ye wille do by the counselle of* me."
Tlie squire
is executed.
Out day
Agnwayne is
imakinff to
his brothers
about Lance*
lot's intrigue
with the
queen.
He thinlcs
tliat tliey
sliould tell
.^^^ the king.
1687 [leaf 107. bk.]
(212)
" Wele wote we," sayd syr gawayne,
** That we ar of* the kyngi^ kynne,
And launcelot is so mykyti of mayne
That suche wordys were better blynne.
1 MS. knyke.
MORTB ARTHUR.
Gawayne
opposes this,
1691
50
The King conut in.
brinK on ^
and «7*H^ Welle wote thou, brotbyr agrawayne,
r wiu There-of shulde we hot harmys wynne ;
yit were it better to hele and layne
Than) werre and wiake thus to be-gynne. 1695
(213)
Welle wote thou, brother agrawayne,
launcelot is hardy knyght and thro ;
kynge and courte hade ofte bene slayne,
Nad he bene better than) we mo ;
And sythen myght I neuyr sayne
The loue that has bene by-twene vs twoo ;
launcelot shalle I neuyr be-trayne.
^-hyjide hys bake to be hys foo.
(2U)
lannedot is kynges sonne fuH good, . .
And therto hardy knyght and bolde,
And sythen and hym ned by-stode.
Many A lande wolde wtt/i hym holde ; 1707
Shedde ther sholde be mykelle blode
For thys tale, yiffe it were tolde ;
Hyr Agrawayne he were fuH wode
That 8uche a thynge be-gynne wolde." 1711
1699
1703
ifitit. Mmii
Um hlhif
lilKMltttlllM
iiuMi't<*<t)>i
urn iNlNllttf
All Mi»
llHtilllil'M
IUHVII Mill
riNIIII |iN|i«|l^
AtfrttWN^iiHi
(215)
Tliiin thus gatys as the knyghtis stode,
(hiwiiyno and AH that other pres.
In conio the kynge vfiih mylde mode;
(kwayno tlian^ sayd: "felaus, pees";
Tho kyngo for wratho was neghe wode
Vox to W(^tto what it was ;
Agj^rawiiyno swore by crosse And Eode :
** I Hhulle it you telle wet/i-oute lees."
(216)
(Jawayiio to liya chambyr wente,
Off* thyn talo nohlo he noght here;
Ouhorioi and gahoryos of hys A-sente
Wltho horo brother went they there ;
1 MS. that
1715
1719
1723
Agrawayne tells him of Lancelot's intrig^ce mth the Queen. 51
Welle they wyste that AH was shente
And syr gawayne hy god than) swere :
" here now [is] made A comsemente
That bethe not fynysshyd many A yero."
(217)
Syr Agrawayne tolde Alle be-dene
To the kynge Yfiih symple chere,
How launcelot liggys by the quene,
" And so has done f ali many A yere,
And that wote Att the courte by-dene
And Iche day it se and here,
And we haue false and treytonrs bene
That we ne wolde neuyr to you dyskiBli*-
(218)
" Al^ ! " than sayd the kynge ihoi%
■ Certes, that were grete pyte,
So Ab man) nad neuyr yit more
Off biaute ne of bounte
Ne man) in worlde was neuyr yit ore
Off so mykylle noblyte.
Alias ! fall grete duelle it were
In hym shulde Any treoon be ;
(219)
But sythe it is so, wtt^uten fayle,'
Syr Agrawayne, so god the Eede;
What were now thy beste consayle
For to take hym) wM the dede4
he is man) of suche Apparayle,
Off* hym) I haue full mychelle drede ;
Alt the courte nolde hym) Assayle
Yiff* he were Armyd vppon) hys stede."
(220)
" Syr, ye and All the courte by-dene
Wendythe to-morowe on huntynge Ryght,
And sythen send word to the quene
That ye wille dwelle wit^ute AH nyght,
1727
1731
who telU the
king that
Lancelot has
been intimate
[leaf 108J
with the
queen for
many years.
17»
Ike king Is
grieved at
tliia.
1739
1743
and wishes to
know how he
may catch
Lancelot in
the act.
1747
1751
Agrawayne
proposes that
theking
should go
hunting the
next day and
tHMK pretend that
1755 beUtobe
away all
52 . Agrawayne plots to catch Lancelot,
This will give And I aud other xii knyghtes kene
wSi twelve FuH preuely we shall vs dyght :
knights, an f ^G '
opportunity 'VVe shaHe hym haue wit^-outen wene,
to catch •' '
Lancelot. . To-morow 01 Any day by lyght." 1759
(221)
The next day On the moiow With AH the courte by-dene
the king acts
on this The kynge gonne on huntynge Kyde,
And sythen he sent word to the quene
That he wolde AH nyght oute A-byde. 1763
Aggrawayne with xii knyghtys kene
Atte home be-lef te that ilke tyde ;
Off AUe the day they were not sene,
So piewtily thay gonne hem hyde. 1767
(222)
The queen Bio was the queiie wondyr blythe
Lancelot, That the kynffe wolde at the f oreste dwelle :
when the '' ^ '
king has Xo launcelot she sente as swythe
gone. "^
And bad that he shulde come her tille. 1771
Bore suspects Syr bors de gawnes be-ganne to lythe,
deaf 108, bk.] Thoughe hys herte lyked ille ;
SiiaS ^ ** Syr/' he said, ** I wolde you kytlie
^^anceo no ^ word, yif« that it were your wille : 1775
(223)
Syr, to-nyght I rede ye dwelle ;
I drede ther be som treson dight
Withe Agrawayne, that is so felle,
That waites you bothe day and nyght ; 1779
Off* Alle that ye haue gonne hyr-tylle
'Ne greuyd me neuyr yit no wight
Ne neuyr yit gaffe myn herte to ille
So mykelle as it dothe to-nyght." 1783
(224)
but he Insists " Bors," he sayd, ** holde stylle ;
ongoing. oi T , -lit
Suche wordys ar noughte to kythe ;
I wille wende my lady tille,
Som new tythandes for to lythe ; 1787
He detects Lancelot with the Qiceen. o3
I ne shaH noght bote wet[e] hyr wylle,
loke ye make youe glad and blythe ;
Certenly I nelle nought dwelle
Bot come A-gayne to youe Ati swythe." 1791
(225)
For-why he wende haue comynwe sone, He did not
»^ ^ J 7 intend 8tay-
For to dwelle had he not thought, however*
Non Armore he dyde hym vppon IJiSStU^itr
Bot A Robe All sengle wrought ; 1795 ***"*•
In hys hand A swerd he fone,
Off* tressoli) dred he hym Ryght noght ;
There was no man vndyr the mone
he wende vritJi harme durste hym) haffe sought. 1799
(226)
Whan he come to the lady shene, ' He comee to
"^ ' tlie queen's
he kissid and clypped that swete wyght ; chamber.
For so the, they neuyr wolde wene
That any treson was ther dyght ; 1803
So mykylle loue was hem by-twene
That they noght de-parte Myght ;
To bede he gothe with the queue *jj R^JJ *® ^
And there he thoughts to dwelle Alle nyght. 1807
(227)
he was not buskyd in hys bedde, Sim iS'bed*^*
launcelot in the quenys boure, AjJSwne
Come Agrawayne and syr mordreit ^iSi* ^h,
With xii knyghtys stiff e in stowre ; 1811 damo^rf
Launcelot of tresson they be-gredde,
Callyd hym fals and kyngys treytoure.
And he so so strongly was by -stedde
There-inne he hadde non Armoure. 1815
(228)
** Welaway ! " than sayd tlie queue, [leaf i09]
"launcelot, what shaH worthe of vs twoo ! tmiSy*" *
The loue that hathe bene vs be-twene ^^ "* *
To suche endynge that it sholde goo ! 1819 .
54
Lancelot's fight loith Agrawaynes party.
Withe Agrawayne that is so kene,
That nyght And day hathe bene oure foo,
Now I wote, wtt^-outen wene,
That AUe oure wele is tomyd to woo/' 1823
(229)
** Lady," he sayd, " thow moste blynne ;
Wyde I wote these wordis bethe Ryffe ;
Bot is here any Armoure inne,
That I may haue to saue my lyffe ? " 1827
** Certis, nay," she sayd thenne,
** Thys Antoure is so wondyr stryffe
That I ne may to none Armoure wynne,
Helme ne hauberke, swerd ne knyffe." 1831
(230)
Euyr Agrawajme and syr mordred
Callyd hym Recreante fals knyght,
Bad hym Ryse oute of hys bedde,
For he moste nedis wttA them fyght ; 1835
In hys Robe than) he hym cled,
Thoughe he none Armoure gete myght ;
Wrothely oute hys swerd he gredde.
The chamber dore he sette vp Ryght. 1839
(231)
An Armyd knyghf be- fore in wente,
And wende launcelot wele to sloo,
Bot launcelot gafife hym soche A dynte
That to the grounde gonne he go ; 1843
The other AH agayne than stente ;
Af tyr hym dorste folowe no moo ;
To the chambyr dore he sprente
And claspid it sviih barres twoo. 1847
(232)
^'•nceiot nj>w The knyght that launcelot has slayne,
S^oS*"' -^y® Armoure founde he fayre and bryght ;
Hastely he hathe hem oMrayne
And therin hym-selfe dight. 1851
bat Lanodot
tries to
comfort her,
and asks for
mrmoar.
There is none,
however, at
hand.
Agrawayne
and Mordred
challenge
Lancelot to
come forth.
and he goes
to the door
with sword
drawn.
The first
knight that
attempts to
slay Lancelot
is himself
slain.
He hills Agrawayne and escapes.
" Now, know thou wele, syr Agrawayne,
Thow presons me no more to-Nyght."
Oute than sprange he wtt/i mykett mayn),
Hym-selfe a-yenste hem) alle to fyght. 1855
(233)
Launcelot than smote vriih herte goode,
' Wete ye welle, wtt/i-outen lese ;
Syr Agrawayne to dethe yode,
And sythen AH the other presse ;
Was non so stronge that hym wtt/i-stode
Be he had made A ly telle Kese ;
Bot mordreit fled as he were wode,
To sane hys lyff* futi fayne he was, 1863
(234)
Launcelot to hys chambre yode,
to bors and to hys other knyghti^ ;
Bors Armyd be-fore hym stode,
To bedde yit was he no^t dight ; 1867
The knyghtw for fere was nye wode,
So were they drechyd aH that nyght,
Bot blythe wexid they in her mode
Whan they her mastyr sawghe yriih syght. 1871
(235)
" Syr," sayd bors, the hardy knyght,
** Aftyr you haue we thoght fuH: longe.
To bedde durste I ne no^t dight,
For drede ye hade som Aunter stronge ; 1875
Owre knyghtt* haue be drechyd to-nyght,
That som nakyd oute of bed spronge,
For-thy we were fuH sore a-fryght
Leste som treson were vs Amonge." 1879
(236)
" Ya, bors, drede the no wight,
Bot bethe of* herte good And bolde,
And swythe A-waken vp AH my knyghtt^
And loke whiche wille wtt/* vs holde ; 1883
55
and attacks
his assailants.
He slays
Agravrayne,
1859 [leaf 109. bk.]
and Mordred
flees.
Lancelot gets
back to his
knights,
who liad
been uneasy
about him all
that night.
Lancelot tells
them to arm
themselves.
so
Lanodat pets ready to reBcwt tk^e Queen.
foithtoa
where Umj
waittohfltf
whathM
queen,
[leaf 110]
Mordred
brings the
news to
Gawayne,
L(ike ibeT be ArmTd asd redy digbt,
For it is ftothe that thou me tolde,
We liEDe be-^anue thvs ilke nvght
Hiat sliafi brmge manT A mim fafi colde." 1887
r2Z7)
BoTs- tiiaii'' qiake wtt// dreiy mode :
- Srrr he savl, "sithe it is so.
We fihaUf be of he^t^^* good
Afhrr ihe wele to take the wo." 1891
The knyghtis sprent as they were wode
And to there hameise gon the go ;
At the morow Armyd be-fore hjm. stode
An hundrethe knyghtt^ and sqnyers mo. 1895
(238)
Whan they were armyd and redy dight,
A softe pas forth gonne they Hide,
As men that were of mykelle myght,
To A forest there be-syde ; 1899
Launcelot Arrayes AH hys knyghtM
And there they loggen hem to byde
Tylle they herd of the lady bryght.
What Auntere of* hyr shulde be-tyde. 1903
(239)
Mordreit than toke A way fidl gayne,
And to the forest wente he Eight,
Hys Auntures tolde, for sothe to sayne,
That were by-fallyn that ylke nyght 1907
" Mordreit, haue ye that treitour slayne,
Or how haue ye vriih hym dight 1 "
" Nay, syr, bot dede is aggrawayne.
And so Ar AH oure other knyghtt«?." 1911
(240)
Whan it herde syr gawayne,
That was so hardy knyght and bolde,
" Alias I is my brother slayne 1 "
Sore hys lierte be-gan to colde ; 1915
The Queen is about to he hurnt
57
" I warnyd wele syr Aggrawayne,
Or euyr yit thys tale was tolde,
Launcelot was so myche of mayne,
A-yenste hym was stronge to liolde."
(241)
It was no lenger for to byde,
Kynge And Alt hys knyghtis kene,
Toke there connselle in that tyde,
What was beste do \fith the quene.
It was no lenger for to byde,
That day fo[r]-brent shuld she bene.
[
no gap in the MS."]
who says that
he warned
Agrawayne ot
what would
happen*
1919
1923
1925
1925^>
1925 c
The king and
his knights
determine
that the
queen must
he burnt.
r,
. (242)
The fyre than made they in the felde,
There-to they brought that lady fre,
that euyr myght wepene welde
A-boute her Armyd for to bee.
Gawayne, that stiffe was vndir shelde,
Gaheryet ne gaheryes ne wold no^t see ;
In there chamber they hem helde
Off* hyr they had grete pyte.
(243)
The kynge Arthure that ylke tyde
Gawayne And gaherys for sent ;
here Answeres were no^t for to hyde,
They ne wolde no^t be of hys assente ;
Gawayne wolde neuyr be nere by-syde
There Any woman) shuld be brente ;
Gaheriet And gaheries vriih lytetie pryde,
AH vn- Armyd thedyr they wente.
(244)
A squeer gonne tho tythandes lythe,
That launcelot to courte had sente ;
To the foreste he wente as swithe
There launcelot and hys folke was lehte,
A fire is
accordingly
made.
1929
1933
but Gawayne
and his two
brothers
refuse to be
present at the
queen's
execution.
1937
1941
A squire
brings Lance-
lot news of
what is
impending,
1945
58 LaTicelot rescues the Queen,
[leaf no, bk.] Bad hem come and haste blythe,
The quene is ledde to be brente ;
an^heand And they to hors and Armes swy the
hasten to And Iche One be-fore Other spiente. 1949
(245)
The quene by the fyre stode
And in hyr smoke AH: redy was;
lordyngis was there many and good
And grete power, wet^-outen lese. 1953
^ew fn time I^^^^elot sprente, as he were wode,
Futi sone partyd he the prees,
Was none so styffe a-3eynste hym stode,
Be he had made a ly telle Bese. 1957
(246)
wheim*ii There was no stele stode hem a^eyne ;
resistance, Though faught they but A lytelle stound,
Lordyngys that were myche of mayne
GWieriet and Qaheriet and gaheries bothe were slayne.
slaying Many goode were brought to grounde; 1961
among oters ^^
Wythe many A doulfuti dethes wounde ;
Tiiey take the Qlie Queue thav toke wit/i-oute layne,
queen back to ^ J J '
witiftiTm "^^^ ^ *^® fores to gonne they founde. 1965
(247)
The king fTlhe tythyugis is to the kynge brought,
kn? hte*** -'- ^^^ launcelote has tane away the quene.
" Suche wo as there is wroughte !
Slayne ar Alle ouro knyghtis kene." 1969
Downe he felle and swounyd ofte,
Grete duelle it was to here and sene ;
So nere hys herte the sorowe sought
Ati-moste hys lyffe wolde no man wene ; 1973
(248)
" Ihesu cryste ! what may I sayne %
In erthe was neuyr man so wo ;
Suche knyghtys as there ar slayne
In Ati thys worlde there is no mo. 1977
Gawayne swears vengeuTice against Lancelot. 69
Lette no man telle Syr gawayne,
Gaheriet hys brother is dede hym fro,
But weilaway ! the reufulle Eayne, k^^
That euyr launcelote was my fo ! "
fdo^r
1981
and says that
Gawayne
most not
know of
Oaheriet's
death.
(249)
Gawayne gonwe in hys chambyr hym holde,
Off* AH the day he nolde not oute goo ;
A squyer than the tythandys tolde
What wondyr theighe hys herte were wo !
"Alias ! " he sayde, " my brother bolde,
Where gahereit be dede me fro ? "
So sore hys hert be-gan to colde
Ati-moste he wolde hym-selff sloo.
(250)
The squyer spake with drery mode,
To re-comfort syr Gawayne :
" Gaheriet eyles noght hot goode ;
he wolle sone come A-gayne."
Gawayne sprent as he were wode
To the chambre there they lay slayne ;
The chambre flore Aile ranne on blode.
And clothys of golde were ouer hem drayne.
(251)
A clothe he heuys than vppon hyght ;
What wondyr thoughe hys hert were sore
So dulfully to se them dight
That ere so doughty knyghtis were !
Whan he hys brother sawghe vfith syght,
A word myght he speke no more ;
There he loste mayne and myght
And ouyr hym felle in swounynge thore.
(252)
Off* swounynge whan he myght A-wake,
The hardy knyght, syr gawayne,
Be god he sware and loude spake,
As man that myche was of mayne :
A squire
nevertheless
1985 tells Ga-
wayne,
1989
1993
1997
[leaf 111]
who goes to
where his
brethren lie
dead.
2001
2005
2009
He swoons at
the sight.
bat, when he
recovers,
he says that
henceforth
there will be
no peace
between him
and Lancelot.
60 ' Lancelot prepares for war.
**Be-twixte me And launcelote du lake
Nys man in erthe, for sothe to sayne,
ShaH trewes sette and pees make,
Er outher of* vs haue other slayne." 2013
(253)
A squyer that launcelot to court hadde sente
Off* the tythandys gonne he lythe ;
To the foreste is he wente
Lancelot also And tolde lauiicelot Also swythe, 2017
learns of the -«-» i /
death of how lordvlnlees that were Riche of rente
Gaheriet and ^ L JO
Gaheries. ^gle goode had loste hyr lyffe,
Gaheryet and gaheries sought here ende ;
Bot than was launcelot no-thynge hlythe ; 2(J21
(254)
He grieves «* Lord/' he said, " what may tliys hene ?
overGaheriet, » > J J
and recog- Ihesu cryste ! what may I sayne ]
w^^Ga^"**" The loue that hathe be-twexte vs bene,
SJpi^sibir'' That euyr gaheryet me was A-gayne ! 2025
Now I wote for AH by-dene,
A sorye man Is syr gawayne ;
A-cordement thar me nevyr wene,
[leaf 111, bk.] TiUe eyther of* vs haue other slayne." 2029
(•255)
Lancelot lauucclot gouuc With hysse folke forthe wende,
c^ect his With sory hert and drery mode :
forces for '' j y
wa*"- To quenys and countesses fele he sende
And grete ladyes of gentiti blode, 2033
That he had oftc here landis deffende
And foughten whan hem nede by-stode.
Ichone her power hym lende,
And made hys party stiffe and goode ; 2037
(256)
Many ladies quenys and countesses that Ryche were
whom he had Scudc hym erlys wit/i grete meyne :
assisted send ^, ,,., ,.
him men. Other ladics that myght no more
Sente hym barons or knyghtis free ; 2041
He first seeks peace from the King,
61
So mykelle folke to hym gon fare,
Hydous it was hys oste to see ;
To the loyus gard wente lie thare
And helde hym in that stronge Cyte.
(257)
Launcelotis herte was futi sore
For the lady fayre and bryght ;
A damosselle he dyd be yare,
In Kyche Apparayle was she dyght,
Hastely in message for to fare
To the kynge of mykelle myght,
To prove it fals (what myght he mare?)
Bot proferys hym there-fore to fyght.
, (258)
The mayden is Kedy for to Ryde,
In A futi Ryche Aparaylmente,
Off* Samytte grene, vfiih mykyti pryde,
That wroght was in the oryente ;
A dwerfPe shiilde wende by hyr syde,
Suche was launcelotis comaundement ;
(So were the raanerys in that tyde, \
v. Whan A. mayde on message wente. )
(259)
To the castelle whan she come,
In the paleise gonne she lyght ;
To the kynge hyr erande she sayd sone,
By hym satte syr gawayne the knyght,
Sayd that lyes were sayde hym vppon) ;
Trewe they were by day and nyght ;
To proue it as a knyght shulde done
Launcelot proferis hym to fyghte.
(260)
The kynge Arthure spekys thore
Wordys that were kene and thro :
" He ne myght proue it neue?* more
Bot of* my men that he wold slo ;
He goes to
2045 JoyusGard
2049
2065
and send! a
damsel to the
king to deny
the charges
made a«dnst
hhn.
2053
2057
2061
The damsel,
richly
apparelled,
goes, accom-
panied by a
dwarf.
She perronns
her errand
to the khig.
[leaf 112]
2069
but the king
will not be
reconciled.
2073
62
The King %oill not have peace.
ThedamMl
brings back
the king's
answer to
Lancelot,
Arthur now
collects his
forces tO(^
and his host
sets out to
besiege Joya«
Gard.
Be l\\&g\x cryste," the kynge sware,
And Syr gawayne than Also,
" his dedis shali be bought futi sore,
Bot yife no stele nyH in hym go." 2077
(261)
The maydcn hathe hyr answere,
To the loyus garde gonne she Ryde ;
Such as the kynges wordis were
She told launcelot in that tyde ; 2081
Launcelot Syghed wounder sore,
Teres frome hys yjen ganne glyde ;
Bors de gawnes by gode than sware :
** In mydde the felde we shall hem byde." 2085
(262)
Arthure wolde no lenger a-byde
Bot hastis hym wzt/i All hys myght ;
Messengeres dyd he go and Ryde,
That thay ne shulde lette for day ne nyght, 2089
Thorow-oute yngland by Iche a syde
To erle, baroim and to knyght,
Bad hem come that ilke tyde
"Withe hors stronge And Armure bryght. 2093
(263)
Thoughe the knyght that were dede hem fro,
There-of was AH there mykelle kare,
Thre hundrethe thay made mo,
Oute of the castelle or they wold fare, 2097
Off ynglonde A[nd] yreland Also,
Off walys and scottis that beste were,
Launcelot And hys folkys to slo.
With hertis breme as Any bore. 2101
(264)
Whan thys oste was All bowne.
It was no lenger for to byde,
Rayses spere and gounfanoune,
As men that were of* mykelle pryde ; 2105
The siege of Joyus Gard,
63
"V^iiJi helme and shelde and hauberke browne,
Gawayne hym-selfe be-fore ganne Ryde
To the loyus garde that Rycho towne,
And sette A sege on Iche A syde.
(265)
A-bonte the loyus garde they laye
Seuentene wokys And well mare,
Tille it felle vppon A day
launcelot home bad hem fare :
** Breke youre sege ! wendys a-waye !
You to slae grete pyte it ware."
He sayd " Alias and weilawaye !
That euyr beganne this sorewe sare ! "
(266)
Evir the kynge and Sir gawayne
Calde hym fals Recreante knyght,
And sayde he had hys bretheme slayne
And treytour was by day and nyght,
Bad hym come And proue hys mayne
In the felde wz't/i hem to fyghte.
Launcelot sighed, for sothe to sayne,
Grete duelle it was to se vfiih sight.
(267)
So loude they launcelot gonne Ascrye
With vois and hydous homys here,
Bors de gawnes standis hym by
And launcelot makys yuelle chere.
**Syr," he sayd, "whare-fore and why
Shulde we these proude wordys here 1
me thynke ye fare as cowardlye
As we ne durste no man nyghe nere.
(268)
Dight we vs in Ryche Araye,
Bothe yfiih spere And vriHi shelde,
As swithe as euyr that we maye,
And Ryde we oute in-to the felde ;
2109
Tltey besiege
it upwards of
[leaf 112, bk.]
seventeen
weeks, and
^1 1 Q Lancelot
Jtlio does not
attack tliem.
2117
The king and
Gawayne
challenge him
to come forth.
2121
2125
At last Bors
upbraids
Lancelot for
not accepting
the challenge.
2129
2133
2137
G4
Lancelot is
loth to
fight against
tbe king.
but cannot
delay the
conflict any
longer.
[leaf 118]
In the battle
Gawayne
wounas
Lyonelle
sorely.
but no one
could otand
up agahist
Lancelot.
A battle hefoi^e Joyus Gard.
Whyle my lyffe laste maye,
Thys day I ne sliaH my wepen yelde ;
There-fore my lyffe I darre wele laye
We two sliaH make liem AH to lielde.' '/ * 2141
(269)
" Alias ! " quod launcelot, " wo is me,
That euyr shuld I se with syghte
A-jeyne my lord for to be,
The noble kynge that made me knyght ! 2145
Syr gawayne, I be-Seche the,
As thou arte man of myche myght,
In the felde let not my lorde be
Ne that thy-selfe wiUi me not fyghte." 2149
(270)
It may no lenger for to byde
But buskyd hem and made AH bowne ;
Whan thay were Kedy for to Eyde,
They Reysed spere and gonfanoune; 2153
Whan these ostes gan samen glyde,
Withe vois and hydous hornys sowne,
Grete pyte was on eyther syde,
So fele goode ther were layd downe. 2157
(271)
Syr lyonelle wit/i myche mayne
Withe A spere by-fore gan founde ;
Syr gawayne Rydys hym A-gayfle,
hors and man he bare to grounde, 2161
That AH men wende he had ben slayne,
Syr lyonetie hade suche A wounde ;
Oute of* the felde was he drayne,
For he was seke and sore vn-sounde. 2165
(272)
In Alt the felde that like tyde
Myght no man stonde launcelot a-^eyne,
And sythen as faste As he myght Ryde
To saue that no man sholde be slayne. 2169
I
The King is unhorsed.
The kynge was euyr nere be-Syde
And hewe on hym with AH: hys mayne,
And he so corteise was that tyde
dynte that he nolde smyte a-gayne.
(273)
Bors de gawnes saughe at laste
And to the kynge than gan he Ryde,
And on hys helme he hytte so faste
That nere he loste AH: hys pryde ;
The stede Rigge vndyr hym ISfaste
That he to grounde felle that tyde,
And sythen wordys loude he caste,
Withe Syr launcelot to chyde :
(274)
** Syr, shalthou AH day Suffer so
That the kynge shaH the assayle.
And sethe hys herte is so thro
Thy corteise may not A-vaile 1
Batailles shaH there neuere be mo,
And thou wilf do be my consalle ;
3euyth vs leue them AH to slo,
For thou haste venquesshid thys bataille."
(275)
*' Alias ! " quod launcelot, ** wo is me.
That euyr shulde I se vrith syghte
By-fore me hym vnhorsyd bee.
The noble kynge that made me knyght ! "
he was than so corteise and fre
That downe of* hys stede he lyghte ;
The kynge ther-on than horsys he
And bade hym fle, yiffe that he myght*.
(276)
Whan the kynge was horsyd there,
Launcelot lokys he vppon,
How corteise was in hym more
Then euyr was in Any man ;
MORTE ARTHUR.
65
Lancelot will
not return
2173 the king's
blows.
Bors un-
horses the
king.
2177
2181
and rebukes
Lancelot for
having been
80 con-
siderate.
2185
2189
Lancelot
helps the
king back on
his steed,
2193
2197
[leaf 113, bk.]
and tlie king
is touched by
his eliivalrjr.
2201
66 Bors and Oawayne fight and are wonnded.
He thought on thyngis that had bene ore,
The teres from hys y^en Eanne ;
He Sayde ** Alias !" with syghynge sore,
" That euyr yit thys werre be-gan I " 2205
(277)
The battle The parties ame wit/i-drawen A-waye,
ceases for the ^ •' '
' day. Off* knyghtis were they wexyn thynne ;
On morow on that other daye
Scholde the bataille efte begynne ; 2209
Thay dyght hem on A Ryche Araye
And partyd ther ostes bothe in twynne ;
he that by-ganne thys wrechyd playe,
What wondyr thoughe he had grete synne ! 2213
(278)
only just at Bors was breme as Any bore,
the end Bora "^ '
and Qawayne And OTite he rode to syr gawayne ;
Have a tut, _^
For lyonelle was woundyd sore,
Wenge hys brother he wolde futi fayne ; 2217
Syr gawayne gonne A-jeyne hym fare,
As man that myche was of mayne ;
Eyther throughe other body bare.
That welle nere were they bothe slayne ; 2221
(279)
in which both Bothe to groimde they Telle in fere,
are wounded. ° *"
There-fore were fele folke futi woo.
The kynges party Redy were
A-way to take hem bothe two ; 2225
launcelot hym-selfe come nere,
Bors rescous he them froo ;
Oute of the felde men) hym here,
So were they woundyd bothe two. 2229
(280)
Off* thys bataille were to telle,
A man that it wele vndyrstode,
How knyghtis vndyr sadels felle
And sytten downe wM sory mode ; 2233
The Pope foi^hids the continuance of the war, 67
Stedys that were bolde and snelle
A-monge hem waden in the blode,
Bot by the tyme of enyn belle
Launcelot party the better stode. 2237
(281)
Off* thys batayle was no more,
Bot thus depa[r]ten they that daye ;
Folke here Frendys home ledde and bare
That slayne in the feldys laye.
Launcelof gonne to hys castelle fare,^
The bataille venquesshyd, for Sothe to saye ;
There was dueti and wepynge sare,
Amonge hem was no chyldys playe.
(282)
FTnto] ali landys northe and southe
I- M Off* thys werre the word spronge,
And yit at Eome it was full couthe,
In ynglande was suche sorowe stronge ;
There-of* the pope had grete Eouthe,
A lottre he selid wit^ hys hande ;
Bot they accorded welle in trowthe,
Enterdite he wolde the lande.
(283)
Then was A bischope at Eome,
Off* Eowchester, wtt/M)uten lese ;
Tylle ynglande he, the message, Come,
To karllylle ther the kynge was ;
The popis lettre oate he nome
In the paleis by-fore the desse.
And bade ihem do the popis dome
And holde yngland in Beste and pes.
The two
parties with-
araw their
fcHroet.
2241
2245
[leaflU]
2249
News of the
war between
Arthur and
Lancelot
reaches the
pope,
who threatens
to lay the land
2253
inUrdlct, if
tliejr do not
Tlie bishop of
brings this
message to
Englatid,
2257
2261
(284)
Bedde was it by-fore Afi by-dene,
The lettie that tiie pope gonne make.
How be moste haoe Sr^ejme the qwme
And a^eorde withe knneelot dn Uht ; 2265
1 The 9eribe iy vUdake hegtm tkU Uaf with th$ Jl/rti twm
lime$4flet^lVi,hU4ifUrwafd»0lrudfthmt(^^
68 A bishop acts as mediator.
Make a pes hem by-twene
For euyr more and trews make.
Or ynglande entyrdyted shulde bene
And tome to sorow for ther sake. 2269
(285)
Tiwkingu The kynge a-3eyne it wolde no^te bene,
pope's oom- To do the popys comaundemente,
niAod to take x x y '
iMck his wifs. Bly thely A-yeyne to haue the quene ;
Wolde he noght that ynglonde were shente ; 2273
iboagit Bot gawayne was of herte so kene
opposst. Tliat to hym wolde he neuyr Assente
To make A-corde hem by-twene,
While Any lyffe were in hym lente. 2277
(286)
The bishop Through the sente of AH: by-dene
Arthur's Ganne the kynge A lettre make ;
nMssatfs to '^ ° '
Ciwifiu.bk.] The bysschope in message yede by-twene
Mking^ferthe To syr launcelot du lake, 2281
niMsii. And Askyd yiffe he wolde the quene
Cortessly to hym by-take,
Or yngland enterdyt shuld bene
And tome to sorow for ther sake. 2285
(287)
launcelot Answeryd vrtHi grete fauoure.
As knyght that hardy was and kene :
Lancelot is " Syr, I haue stande in many A stoure,
Miuotaut, Bothe for the kynge and for the quene ; 2289
Futi colde had bene hys beste towre,
Yiff that I nadde my-selfe bene ;
he quytes it me w*t/i lytelle honoure,
That i haue seruyd hym AH by-dene." 2293
(288)
The bysschope spake wit/i-oute fayle,
Thoughe he were nothynge A-froughte :
" Syr, thynke that ye haue venquysshid many A bataille
Throwgh grace that god hathe for you wrought ; 2297
Lancelot consents to give up the Queen,
69
ye sliaHe do now by my counsayle :
Thynke on hym that yon dere bought ;
Wemen Ar frele of hyr entayle ;
Syr, lettes not ynglande go to noght."
(289)
" Syr bysshope, castelles for to holde
Wete yon wele I haue no nede.
I mygbt be kynge, yif* that I wolde,
Off* AH benwike, that Ryche thede,
Ryde in-to my landys bolde
Withe my knyghtes styffe on stede.
The quene, yif that I to them yolde,
Off* her lyffe I haue grette drede."
(290)
** Syr, be mary that is mayden floure,
And? god that AH: shaH rede and Ryght,
She ne shaH haue no dyshonoure,
There-to my trouthe I shaH you plyght,
Bot boldely brought in-to hyr boure,
To ladyes and to maydens bryght,
And holden in welle more honours
Than euyr she was by day or nyght."
(291)
" ]N'ow, yif* I grande suche a thynge,
That I delyuere shaH the quene,
Syr bysshope, say my lorde, the kynge,
Syr gawayne and hem AH by-dene,
That thay shaH make me A sekerynge
A trews to holde vs by-twene."
[
2301
2305
and fears
what may
OQHQ happen to
^^^^ the queen,
if he returns
her.
The bishop
reassures
him.
2313
2317
no gap in the MS,]
2321
2323
2323 &
2323 c
and Lancelot
consents,
provided the
King and
Oawayne will
conclude a
truce with
him.
(292)
Then was the bysshope woundyr blythe
That launcelot gaffe hym thys Answere ;
TyUe hys palfray he wente as swythe
And tylle karllyle gonne he fare ;
2327
[leaf 115]
The bishop
takes the
news back to
Carlisle.
70
A truo' is mcLde.
TbtkiBf
ace*p(«
LumloC**
condit&oos.
and a trace
is made.
Lancelot is
to bring the
queen Sack
next day.
Tliere is a
beautiful
procession,
wlien the
queen is
returned.
Tythandjs sone were done to Ijtbe
Wliiche that latmcelotis woidis ware ;
The kjnge and courte was AH fuU blythe,
A trews thev sette and sekeryd thare ; 2331
(293)
Through the Assent of AH by-dene
A syker trews there they wrought ;
Though gawaync were of hert[e] kene,
There-a-yenste was he no3te, 2335
To bald A trews hem by-twene,
While launcelot the quene home broght ;
Bot cordemente^ thar hym neuyr wene,
Or eythep other herte haue sought. 2339
(294)
A syker trews gonne they make,
And wit^ ther seales they it bande ;
There-to they thre bisshopys gon take,
The wiseste that were in AH the lande, 2343
And sent to launcelot du lake ;
At loyus gard* they hym fande ;
The lettres there they hym by-take
And there-to launcelot held hys hande. 2347
(295)
The bisshopis than went on her way
To karlyti there the kynge wase ;
Launcelot shaH come that other day
"Withe the lady proude in pres. 2351
he dight hym I[n] a Eyche Araye,
Wete ye wele, wit^-outen les ;
An hundreth knyghtts, for sothe to saye
The beste of AH hys oste [he] chese. 2355
(296)
Launcelot and the quene were cledde
In Robes of A Riche wede,
Off* Samyte white, ^i\h syluer shredde,
yuory sadyH and white stede, 2359
1 In MS, ouermente apparently^ hd cordemente is certainly
inUnded. Op. II. 2028, 2422 and 2426.
* JvM after gard in the MS. the is written by mistake.
['-'' Lancelot h^ings the Queen hack. 71
y
Saumbues of* the same threde,
That wroght was in the hey then thede;
launcelot hyr brydelle ledde,
In the Romans as we Eede ; 2363
(297)
The other knyghtzs euerychone
In Samyte grene of heythen lande
And in there kyrtelles Eyde Allone,
And Iche knyght a grene garlande, 2367 [leaf ns, bk.]
Sadillis sette wit/i Ryche stone,
Ichone A braunche of olyffe in hande,
AH the felde A-boute hem schone ;
The knyghtis Rode fuH loude synghand. 2371
(298)
To the castelle when they come
In the paleise gonne they lyghte ;
Launcelot the quene of hir palfray nome, d u***^°'h
They Seyde it was A semly syghte ; 2375 J^J^***
The kynge than salowes he f uH sone,
As man that was of myche myghte ;
Feyre wordys were there fone,
Bot wepynge stode there many A knyghte. 2379
(299)
Launcelot spake, as I you mene,
To the kynge of mykelle myght :
** Syr, I haue the broght thy quene
And sauyd hyr lyflfe vfith the Ryght, 2383
As lady that is feyre and shene
And trewe is bothe day and nyght ;
Iffe Any man sayes she is noght cl^ue, that h^lS?
I prof re me there-fore to feyght." 2387 ^^i^i^s*""'
that she is
not pure.
(300)
The kynge Arthur Answeiys thore
Wordys that were kene and throo :
" Launcelot, I ne wende neuyr more Arthur
' •' reproaches
That thow wolde me haue wroght thys woo ; 2391 Lancelot.
Lmmalat mub 4 nKtmeUiatUm^
So ^iOK *i Wi^ AZUSn WCfC,
Tbere-rEkiTr t£u& ;i^3G w» mj foo ;
Bi^t C!i':g£Lfi f':r-«hT znie R^vis sore
That ea«r wxs werw br-twexte v« two."
2395
Gav^jn*
harinf alain
hisbroOkcn,
i301)
LAan<!i»I*:t tiun Amirenrde h€^
WLin he bdd 1 jstea jd longe :
** SjT, thy wo dh>w witeste me
And welle thoa waste it is wit/i wionge ;
I w» nearr fer frome the.
When thow hid Any soiow stronge ;
Bot Ijeis Ivstenes thow to Ije,
Off whome Afi thjs word oate spionge."
(302)
Than by-spake hym Syr gawayne.
That was haidy knyght and free :
^ laoncelot, thou may it noght witA-sayne
That thow haste slayne my biethiene thre ;
For-thy schatt we prone oure mayne
In f eld whether shatt haue the gree ;
Or eyther of vs shaH other slayne
Blythe shaH I nenyr be."
2399
2403
2407
2411
[leaf 116]
but Lancelot
asserts that
slay them. , ** Gawayne," he said,
(303)
Launcelot Answeryd wtt^ hert sore,
Thoughe he were nothynge A-froughte :
" Gawayne," he said, " thoughe I were there,
My-self* thy brethren slow I noght ;
• Other knyghtis fele ther were
That sythen thys werre dere han bought."
launcelot syghed wonder sore,
The terys of* hys yen sowght.
(304)
He begs launcelot spake, as I you mene,
Arthur and , ,
oawayne to To the kynge and syr gawayne :
conciied with « gyy^ ghaH I neuyr of* cordemente wene
That we myght frendys be A-3eyne 1 "
2415
2419
2423
Beconciliation is refused.
73
Gawayne spake -with hert[e] kene,
As man that myche was of mayne :
" Kay, cordement thar the neuyr wene
Tylle on of* vs haue other slayne." 2427
(305)
** Sythe it neuyr may be-tyde
That pees may he vs by-twene.
May I in-to my landys Eyde
Saffely with my knyghtis kene 1 2431
Than wiUe I here no lenger byde,
Bot take leue off* yow All by-dene ;
Where I wende in world [e] wyde,
Engelond wolle I neuyr sene." 2435
(306)
The kynge arthur Answered thore,
The terys from hys y3en Eanne :
" By Ihesu cryste ! " he there swore,
** That AH thys worlde wroght and wan,
In-to thy landys whan thou willt fare,
The shaH: lette no lyuand man."
He sayd " Alias ! " withe syghynge sare,
" That euyr yit thys werre by-ganne !
(307)
Sythe that I shaH wende A-waye
And in myn Awne landys wone,
May I saffly wone ther aye,
That ye wythe werre not come me on 1 "
Syr gawayne than) sayd : " naye,
By hym that made sonne and mone,
Dight the as welle as euyr thou may,
For we shaH After come fuH sone." 2451
(308)
launcelot hys leue hathe taken thare,
It was no lenge[r] for to byde ;
hys palfray found he Eedy 3are,
Made hym Redy for to Ryde ; 2455
but Gawayne
vehemently
reftises.
Lancelot then
wishes to be
allowed to
Hde into his
own lands
unmolested.
2439
This the king
promises.
2443
Lancelot next
wishes to
know
whether they
intend to
attack him
04.47 ^" ^** own
country.
and Gawayne
says they do.
Lancelot
takes his
leave in
sorrow.
Lancelot rtiums to his otcn country.
Oute of the castelle gonne they fare,
Gremly teres lette they glyde ;
Oftf ii<,bk.: There was dwelle and wepynge sare,
At the partynge was lytelle pryde.
(309)
H* firrt rUiM To the loyiis gard, the Ryche towne,
to Jojot
G»rd. Rode launcelot, the noble knyghte ;
Busked hem and made A bowne.
As men that were of" myche myght,
Withe spere in hand and gonfanowne
(lette the}' nouther day 7?e nyght)
To An haaen hight kelyon ;
Ryche galleys there they fande dyght.
and then to a
port called
Kcljon
(CaorioooN
2459
2463
2467
He mU Mil
for Ben«rik«,
(310)
Xow ar thay shyppyd on the flode,
launcelot And hys knyghtts hende ;
Wederes had they feyre and goode
"Wher hyr wille was for to wende.
To An hauen there it stode
As men were leueste for to lende ;
Off* benwike biythe was hyr mode,
Whan IhesM cryst hem thedir sende.
(311)
Now ar thay Aryued on the stronde,
Off* hem was f ele folke futi blytlie ;
Grete lordis of the lande,
A-3oyne hym they come as swythe,
And felly n hym to fote and hands ;
For her lord thay gonne hym kythe,
At hys domys for to stande,
And at hys lawes for to lythe.
(312)
Bors made he kynge of gawnes,
As it was bothe law and Ryght ;
k?i? ^5®"®"® lyonelle made kynge of fraunce,
Be olde tyme gawle hyghte ;
and is Joy>
fUUy received
there.
He mnkes
Bors kingr
of Gktwnea
France.
2471
2475
2479
2483
2487
Arthur, pr&paHng for war ah*oad, makes M(yi'dred regent 75
AH hys folke he ganne Auance
And landys gaffe to Iche A knyghte,
And storyd hys castellys for Ati chance,
For mykyH he hopyd more to fyght. 2491
(313)
Ester he crownys wM hys hande,
So sayes the boke w^t7i-outen lese,
made hym kynge of* hys fadyr lande
And prynce of All the Eyche prese ; 2495
Bad no thynge hym shulde wet/i-stande,
Bot hald hym kynge as worthy was,
For ther [no] more hym-self wold fande
Tylle he wiste to le£Pe in pes. 2499
(314) - - -
Arthure wolle he no lenger A-byde,
nyght and day hys herte was sore ;
messengerys did he go And Ryde
Throughe-oute yngland for to fare 2503
To erlys And barons on Iche A syde,
Bad hem buske and make AH jare,
On launcelot landys for to Ryde,
To brenne and sle and make Ati bare. 2507
He also
makes Estor
king of his
father's land.
[leaf 117]
Arthur pre-
pares to wage
war against
Lancelot,
(315)
At hys knyghtis Ati by-dene
The kynge gan hys conselle take,
And bad hem ordeyne hem by-twene
Who beste steward were for to make, 2511
The Reme for to saue and jeme,
And beste were for bretaynes sake ;
Futi mykelle they dred hem Ati by-dene
That Alyens the land wold take. 2515
(316)
The knyghtis answeryd, wet^ute lese.
And said, for sothe, that so them thought
That syr mordred the sekereste was,
Thoughe men the Reme throw-oute sought, 2519
and takes
counsel with
liis knights
as to who
shall govern
the realm in
his absence.
They sav that
Mordred is
the best man.
76
Arthur invades Benwyke.
and lie is
aeoordingly
ArtkarM>
•emblM hU
Cyaat
jronne
(CaerleoD),
and paning
over into
Lancelot's
country
ravage* it.
Lancelot
ffathere hti
riearil7,bk.]
forces to-
gether,
and liolds a
council.
llors urges
that they
should attack
the hivaders.
To saue the Reme in trews and pees.
Was A boke by-fore hym bioaght ;
Syr mordreit they to steward chese ;
That many A bolde sythen A-bought. 2523
(317)
It was no lenger for to byde,
But buskes hem And made Att bowne j
Whan they were Redy for to Hyde,
They Heised spere and gonfanowne ; 2527
Forthe they went vri\h mykelle pryde
Tylle An hauyne hyght kerlyonne,
And graythes be the lande syde
Galeis grete of fele fasowne. 2531
(318)
now are they shippid on the see
' And wendyn ouyr the water wyde ;
Off* benwyke whan they myght se,
Withe grete Route they gonne vp Ryde ; 2535
wft^stode hem neyther stone ne tre,
Bot brente and slow on Iche A syde ;
launcelot is in hys beste Cyte,
There he batelle woUe A-byde. 2539
(319)
launcelot clepis hys knyghtis kene,
His erlys And hys barons bolde,
Bad hem ordeyne hem by-twene,
To wete her wylle, what they wolde, 2543
To Ryde A-jeyne hem AH by dene
Or ther worthe walles holde ;
For woH: they wiste, wit^uten wene,
For no fantyse Arthur nold folde. 2547
(320)
Bors de gawnes, the noble knyght,
stomnoly spekys in that stounde :
" Doughty men that ye be dyghte,
Foundis your worship for to fownd, 2551
Lancelot holds a co^c^icil.
77
Withe spere and shelde and armes bryght
A-3eyne your fo-men for to fownd ;
Kynge and duke, erle and knyglit,
We shaH hem bete And brynge to grounde."
2555
(321)
Lyonelle spekys in that tyde,
That was of* warre wyse And bolde :
* ' Lordyngis, yet I rede we byde
And oure worthy walles holde ; 2559
Le[t] them pryke vfith AH ther pryde
Tylle they haue Caught bothe hungre and colde ;
Than shati we oute vppon them Ryde
And shredde them downe as shepe in folde." 2563
(322)
Syr banndemagew, that bolde kynge,
To launeelot spekys in that tyde :
" Syr, cortessye And your sufferynge
Has wakend vs wo futi wyde ; 2567
Awise you welle vppon thys thynge :
Yiff* that they ouer oure landys Ryde,
AH to noght they myght vs brynge,
Whyle we in holys here vs hyde." 2571
Lyonelle
thinks it
better to re-
main witliia
their walls
until the
invaders are
tired out.
and then
attack them.
Bannde-
magevr says,
however, that
in the mean-
whUe the
land will
have been
destroyed.
(323)
Galyhud, that Ay was goode.
To launeelot he spekys thare :
** Syr, here ar knyghtis of kynges blode
That longe wylle not droupe And dare ;
Gyffe me leue, for crosse on Rode
Withe my men to them to fare ;
Thoughe they be wers than outlawes wode,
I shall them sle and make fuH: bare."
Galyhud is
also in favour
of an imme-
diate attack.
2575
2579
(324)
Off northe gales were bretherne seuen,
Ferly mekelle of strenghe and pryde ;
Not fuH fele that men coude neuyne
Better dorste in bataile byde ;
and so are
the seven
brothers of
North Gales.
2583
78 Lancelot sends a damsel to negotiate a truce.
[iMfllS]
Lancelot l«
in favour of
•Uying
within the
walU and
negotiating
for peace.
AH they sayd wiUi one steuen :
" Lordyngw, how longe wolle ye chyde I
Launcelot, for goddys loue in heuen
With galehud forthe lette vs Hyde." 2587
(325)
Than spake the lorde that was so hende,
Hym-Self , syr launcelot de lake : -
" Lordyngw, A whyle I rede we lende
And oure worthy wallys wake; 2591
A message wile I to them sende,
A trews be-twene vs for to take ;
my lord is so corteise and hende
That yit I hope A pees to make ; 2595
for enough
people have
been killed
nlrenily.
(326)
Thoughe we myght the worshyppe wynne,
Off A thynge myn hert is sore :
Thys land is of* folke futi thynne,
Bataylles has it made futi bare ; 2599
Wete ye welle it were grete synne
Crysten folke to sle thus more ;
Withe myldenesse we shati be-gynne
And god shati wische vs wele to fare." 2603
(327)
And at thys Assent Att they ware,
And Sotte A wacche for to wake,
knyglitw brome as Any bare
And dorib of drede as is the drake ; 2607
uiid H (iNinNei A DaniysoUe thay dede be ^are
rawgea truwe, And hastely gon her lettres make ;
A niaydo sholdo on the message tare
A trows by-twene them for to take. 2611
(328)
The nmydo was futi shene to shewe,
Vppon hor stede whan she was sette,
Hyr paraylle Ati of one hewe,
Off* A grono weluette, 2615
I«nn(u>lt)t'i
iMMiniel pre*
vaili,
The damsel goes to the King,
79
In hyr hand A braunche newe,
For- why that no man sholde her lette ;
Ther-by men messangerys knewe
In ostes whan that men them mette.
2619
(329)
The kynge was lokyd in A felde
By A ryuer brode And dreghe ;
A while she houyd And by-helde ;
Pavylons were pyghte on hyghe ; 2623
She saughe there many comly telde
Wythe pomelles bryghte as goldis beghe ;
On one hynge the kyngis shelde,
That pauylon she drew hyr nyghe. 2627
(330)
The kynges baner oute was sette,
That pauylon she drewe her nere ;
With A knyght* f uti sone she mette,
hyght Syr lucan de bottelere ;
She hailsed hym and he her grette,
The mayde vfiih f uti mylde chere ;
hyr erande was not for to lette,
he wiste she was A messcngere.
(331)
Sir lucan downe gan hyr take
And in hys Armes forthe gan lede ;
hendely to her he spake.
As knyght that wise was vndyr wede : 2639
" Thou comeste from launcelot de lake,
The beste that euyr strode on stede ;
Ihe«u, for hys modyris sake,
Yiffe the grace wele to spede ! " 2643
(332)
Feyre was pight vppon a playne
The paviloun in Ryche A-parayle ;
The kynge hym-selfe and syr gawayne
Comely sytten in the halle ; 2647
Slie ap-
proaches the
king's
pavilion.
[leaf 118, bk.]
and meets
with Sir
2o31 Lucan de
Bottelere
there.
2635
He praises
Lancelot,
and oonducts
her to the
king.
80
Thr m^goiiaium^
arrraad.
and the
plMdsfor
mooths*
trace.
and peace
afterwards.
In that event
Lancelot, she
says, will
spend the
remainder of
his life in the
Holy Land.
[leaf 119]:;
The king is
inclined to
accept these
terms.
but Gawayne
is not.;
The mavde kneird the kynge A-gayne,
So lowe to grotinde gan she falle ;
here lettres were not for to layne,
They were I-rade A-monge hem AH. 2651
(333)
hendly and fevre the majden spake,
FuH favne of speche she wold he sped :
** Syr, god vow saue from wo And wrake
And Att your knyghtis in Eyche wede ; 2655
Yow gret/* wele, syr laimcelot du lake,
That wtt/t yow hathe hene euyr at nede ;
A xii monthe trewse he wolde take
To lyue vppon hys owne lede, 2659
(334)
And sythen, yiffe ye make an heste,
he wille it holde vfiVi hys honde,
By-twene you for to make pees
StabuUy euer for to stonde ; 2663
He wolle Rape hym on A Resse
Myldely to the holy londe,
There to lyue, witA-outen lese,
Whyle he is man lyvande." 2667
(335)
The kynge than clepid hys counsayle,
Hys doujty knyghtis Alt by-dene ;
Fyrste he sayde, wet/i-outen fayle :
** me thynke it were beste to sene ; 2671
he were A fole, wit/i-outen fayle,
So feyr forwardys for to fleme.'*
The kynge the messyngere thus did assayle :
" It were pite to sette warre vs by-twene." 2675
(336)
" Sertw, nay," sayd syr gawayne,
** lie hathe wroght me wo I-noughe,
So traytoMrly he hathe my bredren slayne,
AH for your loue, str, that is treuthe, 2679
who ciurries
the day, how-
ever.
The King declines Lancelot's offer of peace. 81
To yngland witi I not tome A-gayne
Tylle he be hangid on a boughe ;
Whyle me lastethe mygbt or mayne,
There-to I shati fynd peple I-noghe.'' 2683
(337)
The kynge hym-self, w^t/l-owten lese,
And Icbe A lord, is nought to layne,
AH they spake to haue pese, aii are in
But hym-self, syr gawayne, 2687 gfr*Gi?w?nl
To batayle hathe he made hys best
Or ellys neuer to tome A-gayne.
They made hem Kedy to that Rese,
There-fore was fele folke vnfayne. 2691
(338)
The kynge is comyn in-to the balle
And in hys Royati see hym sette ;
He made A knyght the mayden calle,
Syr lucane de botteler, wM-outen lette : 2695
" Say to launcelot and hys knyghtes AH, The king
sends Lan*
suche an heste I haue hym hette, ceiot word
*' ' that they are
That we shall wend for no walle determined
on battle.
Tyll we with mjghtis onys haue mette." 2699
(339)
The mayde had byr Answere, The damsel
. , , retams sor-
Withe drery hert she gan hyr dyght ; rowfoiiy with
byr f eyr palfrey f ande she yare, 'o i-anoeiot.
And Syr lucan ledde hyr thedyr Ryght ; 2703
So throw A foreste gan she fare
And hasted her with AH hyr myghf,
There launcelot and hys knyghtw were,
In benwyk the browgh with bemys bryghf. 2707
(340)
Now is she went with-ia the walle,]
The worthy damysselle f ayre in wede ;
Hendely she Cam in-to that balle, [leaf iia.bk.
A knyght byr toke downe of byre stede ; 2711
MORTE ARTHUR. O
82
Arthur besieges the castle.
A-monge the prync/d proude in palle
She toke hyr lettres for to Rede ;
aud he and There was no counsayle for to calle,
his men pre- *" '
pare for the
fight.
But Redely buskin them to that dede ;
Arthur be-
sides Lance-
lot in his
castle,
and gets
ready to
make an
assault.
Lancelot re-
strains his
men from
rushing
forth..
Gawayne
offers a chal-
lenge to the
knights of
Lancelot's
party.
(341)
As folkys that preste were to feight,
Frome feld wold they neuyr fle ;
But by the morow that day was lyght
A-boute by-segyd was AH there Fee ;
ychone theym ^ Rayed in Ati Ryghtts ;
novther party thought to flee.
[
no gap in the MS.]
(342)
Erly as the day gan sprynge,
The trompett^> vppon the wallis went ;
There myght they se a wondyr thynge,
Off teldys Riche and ma[n]y A tente.
Syr arthur than, the comely kynge,
with hys folkts ther was lente,
To yeff Assaute, wit/i-oute lesyng,
with Alblasters and bowes bente.
(343)
Launcelot Ati for-wondred was
Off* the folke by-fore the walle ;
But he had rather knowew that rease,
Oute had ronne hys knyghtts AM ;
he sayd : ** pry nets, bethe in pease,
For f olyse f ele that myght by-falle ;
yiff thay witi not ther sege sease,
Futi sore I hope for-thynke hem shati.*'
(344)
Than gawayne, that was good at euery nede,
Graythid hym in hys gode Armour,
And styffly sterte vppon A stede
That syker was in ylke A stoure ;
1 MS. theyne.
2715
2719
2721
2721 &
2721c
2725
2729
2733
2737
2741
Gawayne overthrows Bors and Lyonnelle.
83
Forthe he sprange as sparke on glede,
By-fore the yates a-gayne the toure ;.
he had A knyght come kythe mayne,
A cours of* werre for hys honoure.
2745
(345)
Bors de gawnes huskys hym howne
Vpow A stede that shuld? hym here,
WM hehne, sheld, And hauherke hrowne,
And in hys hand A Futi good spere ; 2749
Owte he Kode A grete Eandowne ;
Gawayn kyd he covde of* werre ;
hors and man hothe hare he downe,
Suche A dynte he yaffe hym there. 2753
Bora accepts
it, and is
overthrown.
(346)
Syr lyonelle was Ati redy than
And for hys hroder was wonder woo ;
Redely w^t7^ hys stede oute Eanne
And wende gawayne for to sloo.
Gawayn hym kepte as he wele can,
As he that ay was kene and thro ;
Downe he hare hothe hors and man).
And euery day som seruyd he soo.
and when
Lyonelle goes
[leaf 120]
to his
brother's
2757 the same fate
befidls him.
2761
(347)
And so more than halfe a yere,
As longe as they thepe layne,
Euery day men myghy se there
Men wonndyd and/som slayne, 2765
But how that euer in/ world it were,
Suche grace had sir gawayne,
Eu6r he passyd hole and clere ;
. There myght no mkw stand hyw Agayne. 2769
W8)
Than it hy-Felle vpown X tyde,
Syr gawayne, that was Ktode andfree,
He made hym redy for to Ky^^e
By-fore Uie gatw of the Cyte >^ 2773
Fighting
went on
thus for more
than half a
Dot 6awayne
always
escaped in-
jury.
One day he
issnes a
oballenge to
•sptdally.
84 Za/uxlot's combat tcith (kkwayju,
Launcelot of treson he be-Cryed
That he had slajne hys bretheme thre,
That launcelot my^te no lenger A-byde,
But he euer A cowarde scholde be. 2777
(349)
The lord that grete was of honoure,
Hym-selffe, str launcelot du Like,
A-bove the gat/« vppon the toure
Lancelot ex- Comely to the kynge he spake : 2781
sorrow to the <* My lord, god saue youre honoure !
king tbftt be ^ ' ^ •'
hM to »c- Me ys wo now for yowre sake,
A-gaynste thy kynne to stonde in stoure,
But nedys I muste thys batayle take." 2785
(350)
und iroet Launcelot armyd hym futt wele,
forth In fan ^ „ , ^ ^ ^r . /
ftrmour For sothe had FuM grete nede,
to meet
Oeweyne. Helme, hawberke and Ati of stele
And stifely sterte vppon A stede ; 2789
Hys hameyse lacked he nener A dele,
To were wantyd hym no wede,
No wopyn with All to dele ;
for-thc he sprange as sparke on glede. 2793
(351)
Than was it wamyd faste on hye
How in world that it shupjd fare,
That no man schold come hem nye
Tyllo the tone dede or yolden were. 2797
Kolko w/t/Mlrow them than bye,
Vpon the fold was brode and bare ;
(iimriio.hk.) Tho knyghtw mette, As men it syc,
how tlM\y sotte there dyntw sare. 2801
(352)
u wNi » Tluvn htul Myr gawayne suche a grace,
th V? u**'**'" An lioly man had boddyn that bone,
hXiillr '^''^*»»'^ '»o bIiuUI batayle done, 2805
ur nuuii,
Lancelot overthrows Gawayne.
85
Hys strength shuUd wex in suche A space,
From the vndyr-tyme tylle none,
And launcelot for-hare ay for that case ;
A-gayne xx strokys he yaff* not one : 2809
(353)
Launcelot saw ther was no socoure,
nedysse muste he hys venture Abyde ;
many A dynt he gan wele in-dure
Tylle it drew nere the noon tyde ; 2813
Than he straught in that stoure
And yaflfe gawayne A wond wyde ;
The blode AH coueryd hys coloure
And he felle downe vpon hys syde. 2817
Lancelot,
knowing this,
endeavours
simply to
defend liim-
self up to
noon,
but, being
pressed.
lie severely
wounds
Gawavne,
who falls to
the ground.
(354)
Throw the helme in-to the hede
Was hardy gawayne woundyd so
That vnneth was hym lyfe leuyd ;
On fote myght he no ferther goo ;
But wightly hys swerd A-bowte he wavyd,
For euer he was bothe kene and thro,
launcelot than hym lyAnd levyd ;
For AH the world he nold hym slo.
2821
Lancelot will
not slay
2825 Gawayne,
(355)
launcelot than hym drew on dryhe ;
hys swerd was in hys hand drawen ;
And syr gawayne cryed lowde on hye :
** Traytowr And coward, come A-gayne, 2829
Whan I Am hole And goynge on hye ;
Than wylle I prove wit^ myght and mayne.
And yit A thow woldyst nyghe me nye,
Thow shalt wele wete I am not slayn." 2833
(366)
** Gawayne, while thow myghtw styfflye stonde,
many A stroke to-day of the I stode,
And I for-bare the in euery londe
For love and for the kyngw blode ; 2837
although
Gawayne
continues to
defy him.
He tells
Qawayne to
change his
mood,
86 Gawayne cludlenges Lancelot a second time.
Whan thou arte hole in herte and hond,
I rede the tome and chaunge thy mode ;
[leaf 121] Whyle I am launcelot and man levande,
Gode sheld me frome werkys wode ! 2841
(357)
But have good day, my lord the kynge,
And your doughty knyghtw AUe ;
Wendy th home A leue youre werryeng ;
ye Wynne no worshyp at thys walle ; 2845
And I wold my knyghtw oute brynge,
I wote f uH sore rewe it ye shalle ;
Lly lord, there- fore, thynke on suche thynge,
how fele folke there-fore myght falle." 2849
and adviaeg
theldnff to
return home.
Lancelot's
kniffhU
receive him
joyfully,
and Oawayne
is borne back
to his tent.
Gawayne is
ill for a fort-
night,
but at the
end of that
time he
again chal-
lenges Lan-
celot.
(358)
launcelot, that was moche of mayne
Boldely to hys Cyte wente ;
Hys good kny^tw [there]-of were fayne
And hendely hym in armys hente.
The tother party tho toke syr gawayne,
They wessche hys woundys in hys tente ;
Or euer he coueryd myght or mayne,
vnnethe was hym the lyffe lente.
(359)
A fortenyght, the sothe to saye,
Full passynge seke and vn-sonde
There syr Gawayne on lechynge laye,
Or he were hole AH of hys wounde.
Than it by-felle vppon A day,
he made hym Redy for to wound ;
By-fore the yat he toke the way
And Askyd batayle in that stownd :
2853
2857
2861
2865
(360)
** Come forthe, launcelot, and p7*ove thy mayne.
Thou traytow that hast treson wroght ;
my thre brethern thou haste slayne
And falsly theym to ground[e] brought; 2869
The second combat.
87
Whyle me lastethe myght or niayne,
Thys qareli leve wyti I noght,
Ne pees shall ther neuer be sayne
Or thy sydes be throw sought." 2873
(361)
Than launcelot thoght it no thyng gode
And for these wordw he was fuH wo ;
A-bove the gatis than he yode
And to the kynge he sayd so : 2877
" Syr, me rewys in my mode
That gawayne is in hert so thro.
Who may me wyte, for corsse on Eode,
Thou^th I hym in bataylle sloo 1 " 2881
(362)
Launcelot buskyd And made hym bowne,
he will: boldely the batayle A-byde,
With helme, shelde And hauberke browne,
None better in AH thys world [e] wyde,
With spere in hand and gonfanowne,
hys noble swerd by hys syde ;
Oute he Rode A grete randowne,
Whan he was Redy for to Ryde.
(363)
Gawayne grypes a fuH good spere
And in he glydes glad and gay ;
Launcelot kydde he coude of were
And euyn to hym he takys the way ; 2893
So stoutely they gan to-geder here
That marvayle it was, sothe to say ;
With dyntis sore ganne they dere
And depe wondys daltyn thay. 2897
(364)
Whan it was nyghed nere-hand none,
Gawayne strenghe gan to in-crese ;
So bitterly he hewyd hym vppon
That launcelot AH for-wery was ; 2901
Lancelot
again ex-
preswshU
sorrow to the
king that
Qawavne
shoold he so
implacable.
Deaf 121, bk.]
but has to
ride forth
^r^rs^ for a second
2885 combat.
2889
Theflght
takes place,
andOn-
wayne's
strength,
as usual,
increases up
to noon.
88
Gawayru is again vanquished.
boweTer,
■trikea,
Qawayiie a
blow
on the old
wound, so
thatOa-
wayne lay
groaning on
tne ground.
Than to hys swerd he grypes A-none,
And sethe that gawayne wyH not sese,
Suche A dynte he yafife hym one
That many a Eyche Rewed that resse.
(365)
launcelot sterte forthe in that stowndc,
And sethe that gawayne wili no sease,
The helme that was Ryche and Eownde
The noble 8werd[e] rove that rease ;
he hyt hym A-pon the olde wounde
That oner the sadyli downe he wente
And grysely gronyd vpon the ground,
And there was good gawayne shent.
2905
2909
2913
(366)
yQ ther
Gryped to hym bothe swerde And sheld ;
He, nevertiie- yit gawayne swounynge there as he lay
tinoes to defy
Lancelot,
** lancelot," he sayd, ^* sothely to saye,
[leaf 122]
who answers
him in a
chivalrous
ner.
And by hym that AH thys world shaH welde,
Whyle me lastethe lyffe to-daye,
To the me shall I neuer yeld? ;
But do the werste that euyr thou may,
I schati defend me in the felde."
(367)
Launcelot than) futi styH stoode,
As man that was moche of myght :
" Gawayne, me rewes in my mode,
Men hald the so noble A knyght.
Wenystow I were so wode
Agaynste A feble man to fyght?
I wytt not now, by crosse on Eode,
Nor neuer yit dyd by day nor nyght.
(368)
Lancelot But haue good day, my lord the kynge,
Peking to And AH youre dou^ty knyghtis by-dene,
stop the war. Wendy th home and leue your werrynge,
For here ye shaH no worshyppe wynne.
2917
2921
2925
2929
2933
News of MordredJs treason is Irought
89
yif I wolde my knyghtw oute brynge,
1 hope fuli sone it sbuld be sene,
but, good lord, thynke vppon A thynge,
The loue that bathe be vs by-twene." 2937
(369)
After was it monthes two,
As frely folke it vndyr-stode,^
Or euer gawayne myght Eyde or go
Or had fote vpon erthe to stonde, 2941
The thirde^ tyme he was fuH thro
To do batayle with herte and hande,
But than was word come7i hem to
That they muste home to yngland. 2945
(370)
Suche mesage was hem brought,
There was no man that thought it goode ;
The kynge hym-selfe futi sone it thought
(Fun moche morn yd he in hys mode 2949
That suche treson in ynglond shuld be wroght^)
That he moste nedys ouer the flode.
They brake sege and homward sought*.
And After they had moche Angry mode. 2953
(371)
That fals traytowr, sir mordreid —
The kynges soster sone he was.
And eke hys owne sowne, As I rede —
There-fore men hym fo[r] steward chase — 2957
So falsely bathe he yngland ledde,
Wete yow wele, w^tA-outen lese,
Hys Eme-is wyffe wolde he wedde,
That many A man rewyd that rease. 2961
(372)
Festys made he, many and fele.
And grete yif tys he yafe Also ;
They sayd \Yith hym was loye and wele
And in Arthurs tyme but sorow and woo ; 2965
^ Perhaps the mark indicating n over the o ha^ been left out.
The analogy, however, of II. 3062^. speaks against this.
2 MS. iij.
Two months
later Ga-
wayne was
eager for still
a third com-
bat with
Lancelot,
but news
from Eng-
land prevents
this.
This news is
concerning
Mordred's
treason,
how he
wished to
wed the
queen.
He had so
ingratiated
himself by
gifts and
[leaf 122, bk.]
feasts that
the people
now pre-
ferrea him
to Arthur.
90 Moi'dred has himself proclaimed kinff.
And thus gan Ryght to wronge goo ;
AH the concelle, is noght to hcle,
Thus it was, wtt7<-outen moo,
To hold mordred in londe wtt/i wele.
2969
He has lalw
letters writ-
ten to the
effect that
Arthar U
dead, and a
new king
must be
chosen.
The people
RladlV mak
Mordred
king.
and, after
holding a
feast in
Canterbury,
he goes to
Winchester.
He has it
proclaimed
that he is
going to
marry his
father's wife,
(373)
False lettres he made be wroght*,
And causyd messangers hem to brynge,
That Arthur was to grownde broght,
And chese they muste A-nother kynge.
AH thay sayd as hem thought :
** Arthur louyd noght but warynge
And suche thynge as hym-selfe soght.
Ryght so he loke hys endynge."
(374) •
mordred let crye A parlement ;
The peple gan thedyr to come,
And holly throwe there assente
They made mordred kynge w^t7^ crowne ;
At canturbery, ferre in kente,
A Fourtenyght held the feste in towne,
And after that to Wynchester he wente ;
A Ryche brydale he lette make bowne ;
(375)
In somyr, whan it was fayr and bryght,
Hys faders wyfe than wold he wedde
And hyr hold wzt/i mayne and myght,
And so hyr brynge as byrd to bedde.
2973
2977
2981
2985
and the queen Sche prayd hym of* leue A fourtenyght — ^
disfrSs? The lady was full hard be-stad —
So to london sche hyr dyghf,
That she and hyr maydens myght be cledd.
2989
2993
She shuts
herself up in
the tower of
London,
(376)
The queue, whyte as lyly floure,
Wtt/i knyghti^ fele of her kynne,
She went to london to the towre
And speryd the gates And dwellyd therin.
2997
The Archbishop of Canterbury has to fiee.
91
3005
Mordred changed than hys coloure,
Thedyr he went and wold not blynne j
There-to he made many A shoure,
But the wallys myght he neuer wynne. 3001
(377)
The Archebysshop of canterbery thedyr yode,
And hys crosse by-fore hym broght*.
he sayd : " syr, for cryste on Eode,
What haue ye now Ati in your thoght* 1
Thy faders wyffe, whether thou be wood,
To wedd her now mayste -thou noght*.
Come Arthur euyr ouer the flood,
Thow mayste be bold, it wyH be boghf."
(378)
" A nyse clerke,*' than mordred sayd,
" Trowiste thow to wame me of my wille ?
be hym that for vs suflEred payne,
These wordys shalt thou lyke fuH ylle !
wM wilde hors thou shalt be drayne
And hangyd hye vpon An hylle."
The bischoppe to fle than was fayne
And suffred hym hys folyes to fulfylle ; 3017
and Mordred
cannot get
at her.
The Arch-
bishop of
Canterbury
rebukes him
for, wishing
to marry his
[Ieafl2S]
father's wife,
3009
bat Mordred
replies by
threats
against the
archbishop,
who takes
3013 fli«^*-
(379)
Than he hym cursyd wzt/i boke And belle,
At caunterbery, ferre in kente.
Sone, whan mordred herd ther-of telle,
To seche the bisschoppe hathe he sent ; 3021
The bysshop durste no lenger dwelle
But gold And syluer he hathe hent ;
There was no lenger for to spelle,
But to A wyldernesse he is went ; 3025
When the
archbishop
reaches Can-
terbury, he
excommu-
nicates
Mordred,
but, being
pursued,
has to take
reftage in a
wilcterness.
(380)
The worldys wele ther he wyH for-sake.
Off loye kepeth he neuer more.
But A chapelle he lette make
By-twene two hye holtys hore ; 3029
There he has
a chapel
made, and
lives as a
hermit.
92
Arthur returns to England.
Mordred can-
not obtain
possession of
the tower
of London,
and in his
fear of
Arthur gets
ready to
keep him out
of the king-
dom.
There-in weryd he the clothys hlake,
In wode as he an ermyte ware ;
Often gan he wepe and wake
For yngland that had suche sorowis sare.
(381)
Mordred had than lyen fuH longe,
But the towre myght* he neuer wynne,
W^t^ strength ne vfiili stoure stronge,
ne vfith none other kynnes gynne ;
Hys fader dred he euyr A-monge,
There-fore hys bale he nylle not hlynne ;
He went to warne hem AH w^t^ wronge
The kyngdome that he was crownyd inne.
(382)
Forthe to dover fan gan he Eyde,
AH the costys wele he kende ;
To erlys And to barons on ylk A syde
[leaf 128, bk.] Grete yiftis he gaffe And lettres send,
And for-sette the see on ylke A syde
y^iih bold men And bowes bente ;
Fro yngland, that is bode And wyde,
hys owne fader he \/ d deffend.
V Arthur re-
, tarns to
. England,
\ and is pre-
A vented from
(I landing at
\ Dover.
He lands
elsewhere,
however.
(383)
Arthur, that was mykelle of myght,
"Wiih hys folke come over the flode,
An C galeyse that were welle dyght
'With barons bold And hye of blode ;
he wende to haue landyd, as it was Ryght,
At Dower, ther liym thoght futt gode,
And ther he fande many An hardy knyght
That styflfe in stoure A-gaynste hym stode.
(384)
Arthur sone hathe take the land
That hym was leveste in to lende ;
hys fele fomen that he ther found,
he wende by-fore had bene hys frend.
3033
3037
3041
3045
3049
3053
3057
3061
The first battle and Gawayne's death.
The kynge was wrothe And weliney wode,
And vfiih hys men he gan vp wend ;
So strong A stoure was vpon that stronde
That many A man ther had hys end. 3065
(385)
Syr gawayne armyd hym in that stouMe ;
Alias ! to longe hys hede was bare ;
he was seke And sore vnsond ;
hys woundis greuyd hym futi sare ; 3069
One hytte hym vpon the olde wounde
W^t^ A tronchon of An ore j ,
There is good gawayne gone to grouwde, ,
That speche spake he neuyr more. 3073
(386)
Bold men, wtt^ bowes bentte,
Boldely vp in botes yode,
And Ryche hauberkis they Ryve and Eente,
that Throw-owte braste the Eede blode ; 3077
Grouwden gleyves throw hem wente ;
Tho games thoght theym nothynge gode ;
But by that strong stoure was stente,
The stronge stremys Ran Ati on blode. 3081
(387)
Arthur was so moche of myght,
Was ther none that hym wtt^-stode ;
He hewyd vppon ther helmes bryght,
That throw ther brestes Ran the blode ;
By than that endyd was the fight,
The false were feld, som wer fledde
To canterbery AH that nyght,
To wame ther master, syr mordred.
(388)
Mordred than made hym bowne
And boldely he wylle batayle A-byde,
WM helme, scheld. And hauberke browne ;
So AH hys Rowte gan forthe Ryde ; 3093
93
and prepares
for battle.
In the fight
Gawayne is
hit on the
old wound,
and never
speaks again.
The battle is
severe.
bat in the
end Mor-
oOoO dred's men
are defeated.
[leaf 124]
3089
Mordred now
goes forth
imselftothe
battle,
•Z-C7-2LL7 ^ai*7 ria :ii-»l7T RjiL* : 3097
A3»i 3i»:rrr^ Moixa. ja: lasi riT,
JU ^ra.ri:<i-r ^aiis in* ti^ ii ^^^ 3101
Will iifcl n id* Tr*ie aiyzL- sij*
Tbii: ^zti2A A iiccTft nievifr he irghe. 3105
Ar^ir iLiz. £i3:zi* witA kert ^Md —
A Epjbler kz^T^fi WHS jutT3gr noos^ ;
TLrow belmes is.-co h.<iie jt joode
And sserrd kiiTciiu# liofiae bi«>ie And bone. 3109
mordred for wradie was nye wode,
CallTd hjs f oike And sivd to hem One :
" EeleTe tow, for cioese on Rode !
Alas ! thjs daj so sone is gocme ! " 3113
(391)
Fele men 1 jeth on l)ankjs bare
WttA bryght brondys throw-owte borne ;
and many Many A doQghty man dede was thar.
And many A lord hys lyfe bathe lome ; 3117
mordred was f uH of sorowe And care ;
At canterbery was he vpon the mome ;
And Arthur AH nyght he dwellyd thare,
Hye frely folke lay hym by-fome. 3121
(392)
Artburirariet Erely on the morow tyde
Arthur bad hys homys blowe,
And callyd folke on euery syde,
And many A dede beryed on A rowe, 3125
hiidead,
Gawayne is buried, and Arthur goes to Salisbury. 95
In pittes that was depe And wyde ;
On Iche An hepe they layd hem lowe,
So Ati that oner gone And Eyde
Som by there markys men myght knowe.
(393)
Arthur went to hys dyner thane —
hys frely folke hym folowed faste —
But whan he f and syr gawayne
In A shyppe laye dede by A niaste,
Or euyr he coveryd myght or mayne,
An C tymes hys hert nyghe braste.
[
no gap in the MS.^
[leaf 124, Wc.]
3129
but when he
«ir»« finds Ga-
ol O 3 wayne among
them, his
heart almost
broke.
3135 6
3135 c
(394)
Thay layd syr gawayne vpon A here
And to the casteti they hym bare,
And in A chapeti A-mydde the quere
That bold baron they beryed thare.
Arthur than changyd AH hys chere ;
What wondyr thoghe hys hert was sare !
hys suster sone, that was hym dere,
Off hym shold he here neuyr mare.
(395)
Syr Arthur, he wolde no lenger A-byde ;
Than had he AH maner of euyli Keste ;
He sought aye forthe the southe syde
And toward walys wente he weste ;
At salusbury he thought to byde,
At that tyme he thought was beste,
And calle to hym by Whytesontyde
Barons bold to batayle preste.
(396)
Vnto hym came many A doughty knyght,
For wyde in worlde theyse wordys sprange,
That syr Arthur hade AH the Kyght,
And mordred warred on hym wtt/i wronge.
3139
They lay
Gawayne's
dead body
on a bier,
and beai^ it to
a chapel in
the castle.
3143
Arthur'ffoes
in the direc-
tion of Wales,
and intends
to stop at
Salisbury
3147 to gather
*^^^' together his
forces there.
3151
Many bold
kuighti
Arthur.
knights Join
3155
96
Arthurs vision of the tcheel.
It is Axed
that there U
to be a battle
aft«r the
feast of the
Trinity.
Hydowse it was to se wtt^ syght,
Artlmr-is oste was brode And longe,
And mordred that was mykett of myght
Wtt/< grete gyftes made hym stronge.
(397)
Sone After the feste of the trynyte
Was A batayle by-twene hem sette,
That A steme batayle ther shuld be ;
For no lede wold they it lette ;
And syr Arthur makethe game And glee
For myrth that they shuld be mette ;
And syr mordred can to the contre,
Wit/fc fele folke that ferre was fette.
3159
3163
3167
The night
before the
[leafl25]
battle
Arthur has
a vision.
He thought
that he was
crowned on
a great wheel.
(398)
At nyght whan Arthur was brought in bedd —
He shuld haue batayle vppon the morow —
In stronge sweu[en]ys he was by-stedde,
That many A man that day shuld haue sorow ; 3171
hym thowht he satte in gold Ati gledde,
As he was comely kynge yfi\h crowne,
vpon A whele that fuH; wyde spredd,
And AH; hys knyghtis to hym bowne. 3175
Down below
him tliere
was a black
water fUll of
dragons.
(399)
The whele was ferly Kyche And Rownd,
In world was neuyr none halfe so hye ;
There-on he satte Rychely crownyd
W*t/i many A besaunte broche And be ;
he lokyd downe vpon the grownd,
A blake water ther vndyr hym he see,
"With dragons fele there lay vn-bownde,
That no man durst hem nyghe nyee.
3179
3183
The wheel
turned, and
the dragons
caught him
by the limbs.
(400)
he was wondyr ferd to falle
A-monge the fendys ther that faught ;
The whele ouer-tomyd ther wtt/^-AH
And eueryche by A lymme hym caught.
3187
Gawayne. appears to the King in a vision.
97
The kynge gan lowde crye And calle,
As marred man of* wy tte vn-saught ;
hys cliambjrrlayns wakyd hym ther wztA-AH;
And woodely oute of* hys slepe he raught.
(401)
AH; nyght gan he wake And wepe,
With drery hert And sorowfuH; stevyn,^
And A-gaynste day he felle on slepe ;
A-boute hym was sette tapers sevyn ;
Hym thought Syr gawayne hym dyd kepe
With mo folke fan men can nevyn,
By A Ryuer that was brode And depe ;
Att semyd Angellys cam from heuyn.
(402)
The kynge was neuyr yit so fayne,
hys soster sone whan that he sye ;
** Welcome," he sayd, " syr gawayne ;
And thou myght leue, welle were me.
Now, leue frend, w^t^-outen layne,
What Ar tho folke that f olow the 1 "
^* Sertis, syr," he sayd A-gayne,
" They byde in blysse ther I motte be.
(403)
lordys they were And ladyes hende,
Thys worldys lyffe that hanne for-lome ;
Whyle I was man on lyffe to lende,
A-gaynste her fone I faught hem f ome ;
now fynde I them my moste Frende :
They blysse the tyme that I was borne ;
They Asked leve with me to wende
To mete with yow vpon thys mome.
(404)
A monthe day of* trewse moste ye take
And than to batayle be ye bayne ;
yow comethe to helpe lancelot du lake.
With many A man mykett of mayne :
^ MS. chere.
MORTB ARTHUR.
The king
cries aloud
on account
of his vision,
and his
ohamberUins
3191 awaken liim.
3195
but towards
day he falls
asleep again
and has a
vision of
Gawayne who
is followed by
angels, as it
seemed.
3199
3203
Gawayne
explains that
3207 these are the
^^^' spirits of
lords and
ladies whom
he had aided
in life, and
who are now
his best
friends.
3211
[leaf 125, bk.]
3215
3219
Gawayne
exhorts
Arthur to
conclude a
month's
truce with
Mordred,
then have
Lancelot's
assistance.
98
The King proposes a tncce to Mordred,
Tb«ldngl«
•nd tolls his
lords of what
Gawayne's
spirit had
urged.
He sends Sir
Locande
Botoler and
others to
tmoe to
Mordred.
They deliver
the message.
bat Mordred
T^ectothe
proposal.
To-mome the batayle ye moste for-6ake
Or eUys, certis, ye shatt be slayne."
The kynge gan woffully wepe and wake.
And sayd : « Alias ! thys KewffuH Rayne ! " 3223
(405)
hastely hys clothys on hym he dyde,
And to hys lordys gan he saye :
<* In stronge sweyneys I haue bene stad.
That glad I may not for no gamys gaye. 3227
We muste vnto syr mordred sende
And founde to take Another day,
Or trewly thys day I mon be shende,
Thys know I in bed as I laye. 3231
(406)
Goo thow, syr lucan de boteler,
That wyse wordys haste in wolde,
And loke that thou take with the here
Bysshopys fele and barons bolde." 3235
Forthe went they AH in fere,
in trew bokys as it is tolde.
To syr mordred and hys lordig there they were.
And an C knyghtis AH vn-tolde. 3239
(407)
The knyghtw that ware of grete valoure,
By-fore syr mordred as they stode,
They gretyn hym with grate honowre,
As barons bold And hye of blode : 3243
**Ryght wele the gretys kynge Arthur,
And praythe the wit^ mylde mode,
A monethe day to stynte thys stoure,
For hys loue that dyed on Rode.*' 3247
(408)
mordred, that was bothe kene And bolde,
made hym breme As Any bore at bay,
And sware by ludas that Ihestis'^ sold :
** Suche sawes Ar not now to saye ; 3251
^ Ihc. in MS,i i, e. Jesus Christ,
A meeting between Arihv/r and Mordred is arranged for. 99
That he hathe hyght he shaH it hold ;
The tone of vs shaft dye thys day ;
And telle hym trewly that I tolde,
I schatt hym mane, yife that I may J
3255
(409)
" Syr, thay sayd, with-owten lese,
Thow3 thou And he to batayle howne,
many A ryche shaH rewe that reasse,
By Att hy dalte vpon thys downe ; 3259
yit were it better for to sease,
And lette [hym] be kynge and here the crowne ;
And after hys dayes, fuH dredelesse,
ye to welde AH yngland, towre And towne." 3263
(410)
mordred tho stode stylle A whyle,
And wrothely vp hys eyne there wente,
And sayd : " wyste I it were hys wyUe
To yeue me comwale And kente,
lette vs mete vpon yonder hylle
And talke to-gedyr with gode entente ;
Suche f orwardys to f uti-f ylle,
There-to shaH I me sone Assent.
(411)
And yiffe we may wOh spechys spede,
Wit^ trew trowthes of* entayle,
hold the bode-worde that we bede,
To yeue me kente And comwayle,
Trew loue shaH ther lenge And lende ;
And, sertis, forwardys yif we fayle,
Aythur to sterte vppon A stede,
styffely for to do batayle."
(412)
" Sur, wyll ye come in suche maner,
With xij knyghtw or fourtene,
Or ellys AH your strenghe in fere.
With helmes bryght And hauberkys
3267
3271
3275
3279
Arthar's
messengera
[leaf 126]
then propose
a cesMtion of
war on the
oonditi<m
that Arthur
should role
the rest of
his lift,
bat that
Mordied
should be his
Mordred
in reply
says that he
is willing to
disooss
terms, if
Oomwalland
Kent be
ceded him.
bat that, if
are violated,
the war will
be renewed.
Arthur's
knights wish
to arrange
about the
tbedlaonasion
3283 o'**""-
100 The King and Mordred prepare to come together.
Mordred says
that it must
take place
between the
annies,
with the
hosts near
at hand.
Arthur's
messengers
return to
him and
report what
Mordred has
said.
" Se[r]tys, nay," than sayd he thore,
" Othur warke thou thare not wene,
But bothe oure hoostis shatt nyghe nere
And we shalle talke them by-twene."
(413)
They toke ther leue, wzt/t-owten lese,
And wyghtely vpon there way wente ;
To kynge Arthur the way they chese,
there that he satte wit/i-in hys tente.
*' Syr, we haue proferyd pease,
Yiffe ye wille ther-to Assente :
Gyffe hym the crowne After your dayes
And in yower lyffe comwayle and kente ;
(414)
To hys by-heste yiffe ye wilt holde,
And your trouthe trewly ther-to plyght,
maketh Ati redy your men bolde,
Wit/i helme, swerd And hauberke bryght ;
ye schatt mete vppon yone molde
That ayther oste may se wzt7i syght ;
[leaf 126, bk.] And yiff jour foreward fayle to holde,^
There is no bote but for to fyght."
3287
3291
3295
3299
3303
Arthur gets
ready for the
meeting with
all his host.
but Mordred
has twelve
men to every
one of
Arthur's.
(415)
But whan Arthur herd thys nevyn,
Trewly ther-to he hathe swome,
And Arayed hym with batayles seuyn,
Wit/i brode baners by-fore hym borne ;
They lemyd lyght As Any leuyn ^
Whan they shold mete vpon the morne.
There lyves no man vndyr heuyn
A feyrer syght hath sene by-forne.
(416)
But mordred many men had mo ;
So mordred that was mykeli of mayne,
he had euyr xij A-gaynste hym two
Off* barons bold to batayle bayne.
^ Jhu mere at top of leaf 126, back.
2 MS. lemyn.
3307
3311
3315
At the meeting an accident cavMS a misunderstanding, 101
Arthur And mordred — bothe were thro —
Shuld mete bothe vpon A playne ;
The wyse shuld come to And fro
To make A-cord, the sothe to sayne. 3319
(417)
Arthur in hys herte hathe Caste
And to hys lordis gan he saye :
" To yonder trayto^^r haue I no truste
But that he woH vs falselly be-traye, 3323
yitf we may not oure forwardys faste.
And ye se any wepyn drayne,
presythe forthe As pn?ices praste,
That he & All hys hoste be slayne." 3327
(418)
mordred, that was kene And thro,
hys frely f olke he sayd to-fome :
" I wote that Arthur is futt woo
That he hathe thus hys landys lome ; 3331
Wit^ fourtene knjghtis And no mo
shall we mete at yondyr thome ;
yiff Any treason by-twene vs go.
That brode baners forth be borne." 3335
Arthur tells
his lords that
he distrusts
Mordred, and
that at the
least sign of
treachery
they must
attack their
enemies
vigorously.
Mordred
expresses the
same distrust
of Arthur,
and gives his
men the
same direc-
tions.
(419)
Arthur w^'tJ^ knyghtts fully xiiij,
To that thome on fote they fonde,
With helme, sheld, And hauberke shene ;
Ryght so they trotted vppon fe grownde.
But As they A-cordyd shulde haue bene,
An Edder glode forth vpon the grownde ;
he stange A knyght, that men myght sene
That he was seke And futi vn-sownde.
3339
3343
Arthur, with
fourteen
knights, goes
to the thorn-
tree, where
the meeting
is to be,
but, when
they were
approaching
an agreement,
it happened
that an adder
stung one of
the knights.
(420)
Owte he brayed with a swerd bryght ;
To kylle the Adder had he thogh[t]e ;
Whan Arthur party saw that syght,
Frely they to-gedyr sought ;
who drew his
sword to kill
it.
Arthur's men
suspect
3347 treachery
at once.
102 Th€ tu:o parties engage in battle.
{}miitn There was no-ihjnge witA-«tuide thejm myght ;
The J wend that tzeson had bene wipghte.
That daj djed many A doo^tj knyght.
And manj A bolde man was hn^ht to noght. 3351
(421)
•fid um two Arthur stert vpon hys stede :
Meh fl«htr. he gaw no thyng hym wtt^-stand myght ;
moidred owte of wytte nere yede.
And wiothely in-to hys sadyii he lyght ; 3355
Off A-corde was no-ihyng to bede.
But f ewtred sperys and to-geder sprente ;
Futt many A doughty man of dede
Sone there was leyde vpon the bente. 3359
(422)
mordred I-maiyd many A man.
And boldely he gan hys batayle abyde ;
So stemely oute hys stede Eanne,
many A rowte he gan throw Eyde ; 3363
Arthur of* batayle neuyr blanne
To dele woundys wykke and wyde ;
Th« bfttue Fro the morow that it by-ganne
Uatodallday,
Tylle it was nere the nyghti* tyde, 3367
(423)
There was many A spere spente,
And many A thro word they spake ;
many A bronde was bowyd and bente
And many A knyghtw helme they brake ; 3371
Ryche helmes they Eoffe and rente ;
The Ryche rowtes gan to-gedyr Rayke,
and ft hun- An ^ C thousaud vpon the bente ;
men were The boldest or evyn was made Ryght meke. 3375
engaged in it.
(424)
Sythe bretayne owte of troy was sought
And made in bretayne hys owne wonne,
Suche wondrys neuyr ere was wroght,
Neuyr yit vnder the sonne ; 3379
1 MS. And.
Arthur and two knights alone mrvive the battle. 103
By evyn leuyd was there noght
That euyr steryd with blode or bone
But Arthur and ij that he thedyr broghte,
And mordred was levyd there Alone.
3383
By evening
the only
survivors
were Arthur,
with two of
his men, and
Mordred.
(425)
The tone was lucan de botelere,
That bled at many A bale-futt wound,
And hys brodyr, syr bedwere,
Was sely seke and sore vnsounde. 3387
Than spake Arthur these wordys there :
** ShaH; we not brynge thys theffe to ground! 1 "
A spere he gryped with feU chere,
And felly they gan to-gedyr found. 3391
(426)
he hytte mordred amydde the breste
And oute At the bakke bone hym bare ;
There hathe mordred hys lyffe loste,
That speche spake he neuyr inare ; 3395
But kenely vp hys Arme he caste
And yaff* Arthur A wound sare,
In-to the hede throw the helme And creste,
That iij tymes he swownyd thare. 3399
(427)
Syr lucan And syr Bedwere
By-twene theym two the kynge vp-held ;
So forthe went tho iij in fere,
And AH were slayne that lay in feld.
The doughty kynge that was hem dere,
For sore myght not hym-self weld ;
To A chapelle they went in fere —
Off* bote they saw no better held.
(428)
AH nyght thay in the chapeHe laye,
Be the see syde. As I yow newyn, •
To mary mercy cryand aye,
WiiJi drery herte and sorowfuH stevyn; 3311
The com-
panions of
Artliur who
survived
were Sir
Lucan de
Botelere and
Sir Bedwere,
and l>oth were
wounded.
Arthur assails
Mordred
and slays
him,
[leafl27,bk.]
but Arthur
is himself
so sorely
wounded by
Mordred that
he swoons
thrice.
Sir Lucan
and Sir
Bedwere take
^,^^ the king to a
3403 chapel.
3407
and there
they lay all
night praying
for Arthur.
104 The death of Sir Lucan de Boteler.
And to hyr leue sonne gan they pray :
" Ihesu, for thy namys sevyn,
Wis hys sowle the Ryght way,
That he lese not the blysse of heuyn." 3415
(429)
Sir Lncan de As svr lucan de boleter stode.
<*^«« he sey folk vppon playnes hye ;
ro^»Hftiw Bold barons of bone and blode,
ntmn on um
field of battle. jhey Refte ^ theym besaunt, broche, and bee ; 3419
And to the kynge Agayne thay yode,
Hym to wame with wordy s slee ; 3421
[ 342U
710 gap in tlie MS.^ 3421 c
(430)
To the kynge spake he futt styH,
Rewffully as he myght than Rowne :
" Sir, I haue bene At yone hylle,
There fele folke drawen to the downe ; 3425
I note whedyr they wyH vs good or ylle,
I rede we buske And make vs bowne,
end he urges yiff it be your worthy wylle,
go eiMwhere. That we wende to som towne." 3429
(431)
The king bids " Now, syr lucan, As thow Eadde,
Sir Lucan , ^ , , , -r , m
Uft him up, lyfte me vp, whyle that I may laste. '
Bothe hys Armes on hym he sprad
WM All hys strengh to hold hym faste. 3433
The kynge was wondyd and for-bled
And swownyng on hym hys eyne he caste ;
bat hii Syr lucan was hard by-stadde:
embrace killi "^ , , ,
Sir Lucan. He hold the kynge to hys owne herte braste. 3437
(432)
Whan the kynge had swounyd there,
By an Auter vp he stode ;
Syr lucan, that was hym dere,
tieafiw] Lay dedo and fomyd in the blode. 3441
> MS. Reste.
Arthur charges Sir Bedwere to cast Excalaher irUo the sea. 105
Hys bold brothyr, Sir Bedwere,
FuH mykeH momyd in hys mode ;
For sorow he iny3te not nyghe hym nere,
But enyr wepyd As he were wode.
(433)
The kynge tomyd hym there he stode,
To syr Bedwere y/ith wordys kene:
" Have Excalaber, my swerd[e] good ;
A better brond was neuyr sene ;
Go, Caste it in the salt flode
And thou shalt se wonder, as I wene.
hye the faste, for crosse on Kode,
And telle me what thou haste ther sene."
Sir Bedwere
mourns for
his brother's
death.
3445
The kiDfir
commands
3449 Bedwere to
cast his good
sword,
£xcahiber»
into the sea
and report
to him what
liappens.
3453
3461 **"***"■
(434)
The knyght was both hende and free.
To save that swerd he was fuH glad,
And thought " whethyr I better bee,
yif neuyr man it After had ; 3457
And I it caste in-to the see.
Off* mold was neuyr man so mad."
The swerd he hyd vndyr A tree.
And sayd : " syr, I ded as ye me bad."
(435)
" What saw thow there ? " than sayd the kyuge,
** Telle me now, yif* thow can."
** Sertes, syr," he sayd, " nothynge
But watres depe And wawes wanne." 3465
** A ! now thou haste broke my byddynge !
Why haste thou do so, thow false man 1
A-nother bode thou muste me brynge.*'
Thanne careffully the knyght forthe Eanne 3469
(436)
And thought the swerd yit he wold hyde,
And keste the scauberke in the flode.
" yif Any Aventurs shatt be-tyde,
There-by shall I se tokenys good." 3473
Sir Bedwere,
reflecting
tliat it is a
pity to throw
ttway the
sword.
hides it
under a tree.
Arthur tliat
)ie has done
liis bidding.
The king
wishes to
know what
Sir Bedwere
saw,
but when
lie replies,
** nothing but
waters deep
and waves
wan,"
Arthur re-
pnmolies him
and sends
him forth
again.
This time
Sir Bedwere
oasts the
sbeatlt into
the flood.
106 Arthur is taken into a boat hy fair ladies.
In-to the see he lette the scauberke glyde ;
A whyle on the land hee there stode,
??irt!rS the Than to the kynge he wente that tyde,
SS^filaiJIr And sayd : " syr, it is done, by tlie Rode." 3477
hiscommuid.
(437)
The king " Saw thou Any wondres more ? "
Sidiijd " Sertys, syr, I saw nought"
wSTirSSnd " ^ • ^^^ traytor," he sayd thore,
time. « Twyse thou haste me treson wroght ; 3481
That shaH thou rew sely sore ;
And, be thou bold, it shal be bought."
The knyght than cryed : " lord, thyn ore I "
And to the swerd sone he sought. 3485
(438)
Sir Bedwero SvT bed were saw that bote was beste,
now goes a ''
third time And to the good swerd he wente ;
and throwg ° '
the sword In-to the soe he hyt keste ;
into the sea. •^ '
[leaf 128, bk.] Than myght he se what that it mente. 3489
A hand comes There cam An hand wzt/i-outen Reste
up out of
tiie water, Qute of* the Water And feyre it hente,
seiies the "^ '
brandishes "^^^ brandysshyd As it shuld braste,
JJ^*"P- And sythe, as gleme, A-way it glente. 3493
(439)
wiien Sir To the kynge A-gayne wente he thare,
Bedwere tells *,?,., x a , i
the iting of And sayd : ** leve syr, I saw An hand ;
what he has "^ '' '
■*®5f?' u.^ Oute of the water it cam AH: bare,
Artliur bide '
toThe rtrim? '^^^ thryse brandysshyd that Ryche brande." 3497
"helpe me sone that I ware there."
he lede hys lord vnto that stronde ;
There they A rvche shyppe, w?'t^ maste And ore,
find a rich J J ff f >
fhijpfuuof Futt of ladyes, there they fonde. 3501
(440)
The ladyes, that were feyre and free,
ti^e^^l^'one Curteysly the kynge gan they fonge,
Saii^hta^*"^ And one that bryghtest was of blee
weepfng'*" wepyd sore and handys wrange. 3505
sorely.
Si7' Bedwere finds a hermit and a quw tomb. 107
" Broder," she sayd, " wo ys me !
Fro lechyng hastow be to longe.
I wote that gretely greuyth me,
For thy paynes Ar f uH stronge." 3509
(441)
The knyght kest A rewfull rowne,
There he stode, sore and vnsownde,
And say[de] : " lord, whedyr Ar ye bowne %
Alias ! whedyr wyH ye fro me fowndeT* 3513
The kynge spake wM A sory sowne r
** I wyllQ wende a lyteH; stownde
In-to the vale of Avelovne,
A whyle to hele me of my wounde." ^ 3517
When Sir
Bedwere
asks the king
whither is he
bound, he
replies that
he will go a
littte while to
the vale of
Aveloune to
be healed of
bis wound.
(442)
Whan the shyppe from the land was broght,
Syr bedwere saw of hem no more ;
Throw the forest forthe he soughte.
On hyllys and holtys hore.
Of* hys lyffe Bought he Byght noght,
AH; nyght he went wepynge sore ;
A-gaynste the day he fownde ther wrought
A chapelle by-iwene ij holtes hore.
(443)
To the chapell he toke the way ;
There myght he se A woundyr syght ;
Than saw he where an ermyte laye
By-fore A tombe that new was dyghte ;
And coveryd it was wit^ marboH graye
And vfiili Byche lettres Bayled Aryght ;
There-on An herse, sothely to saye,
Wiih an C tappers lyghte.
(444)
vnto the ermyte wente he thare
And Askyd who was beryed there.
The ermyte Answeryd swythe yare :
" There-of« can I tett no more.
The ship
disappears,
and Bedwere
goes through
the forest in
great sorrow.
3521
Towards
QKOK daylight lie
OoZo comes upon a
chapel.
where he
finds a
3529 hermit lying
before a new
tomb,
lighted up
with a hun-
dred tapers.
3533
He asks the
hermit who
is buried
there,
3537 [leafl29J
108
Ttu Q\uen goes into a nunnery.
batth«
iMnnIt only
knows thai
th« body in
the tomD wu
brooRht there
about mid-
night bj
luUiea,
wlio offiered
iiiiD a hun-
dred pounds
and bad him
Itniy for the
ilead man to
Our Lady.
A-bowte myJnyght were ladjes here,
In world ne wyste I what they were ;
Thys body they broght vppon a here
And beryed it wtt/t woundys sore ; 3541
(445)
Besavntw offred they here bryght,
I hope an C povnd and more,
And bad me pray bothe day and nyght
For hym that is buryed in these moldys here 3545
Vnto ower lady bothe day And nyght,
That she hys sowle helpe sholde."
The k nyght redde the lettres A-ryght ;
For sorow he fett vn-to the folde. 3549
Sir Bedwere
read* tlie
letters on the
tomb and
exclaims that
it is Arthor.
He begs the
hermit to let
him live with
hiui as a
hermit also.
It turns out
that the
liermit is tlie
Archbishop
of Canterbury
whom Mor-
ilred drove
away.
He receives
Sir Bedwere
gladly.
When the
queen hears
of all these
misfortunes,
she goes to
Amesbury to
become a
nun.
(446)
" Ermyte," he sayd, ** wtt/i-oute lesynge,
here lyeth my lord that I haue lome,
Bold arthur, the beste kynge
That euyr was in bretayne borne. 3553
yif* me som of* thy clothjmge,
For hym that bare the crown e of thome,
And leue that I may Yfiih the lenge,
Whyle I may leve, And pray hym fome.*' 3557
(447)
The holy ermyte wold not wounde —
Some tyme Archebishop he was,
That mordred flemyd oute of londe,
And in the wode hys wonnyng chase — 3561
he thankyd Ihesu AH of his sound
That syr bedwere was comyn in pease ;
he resayved hym wtt/i herte And honde,
To-gedyr to dwelle, wet/i-outen lese. 3565
(448)
Whan quene Gaynor, the kynges wyffe,
Wyste that AH was gone to wrake,
A-way she went with ladys fyve
To Avmysbery, A nonne hyr for to make. 3569
Lancelot returns to England.
109
Lancelot,
in the mean-
while, had set
out to help
Arthur.
Ther-in she lyved An holy lyffe,
In prayers for to wepe And wake ;
neuyr After she cowde be blythe ;
There weryd she clothys whyte And blake. 3573
(449)
Whan thys tydyng^g was to launcelot broght,
What wondyr tbowgh hys hert were sore !
hys men, hys frendys, to hym sought
And AH the wyse that Yri\h hym were. 3577
her gallayes were Alt Redy wroght,
They buskyd theyme And made yare ;
To helpe Arthur was ther thoght
And make mordred of blysse full bare. 3581
(450)
lancelot had crownyd kyngt8 sevyn,
Erlys f ele And barons bold ; [leaf 129, bk.]
The nombyr of knyghtx* I can not nevyn,
The squyres to fele to be told ; 3585
They lemyd lyght as Any levyn^
The wynde was as hem-self wold,
Throw the grace of god of* hevyn ;
At doner they toke hauyn And hold ;
(451)
There herd telle lancelot in that towne,
In lond it is not for to layne,
how they had faught at barendowne,
And how beryed was syr gawayne, 3593
And how mordred wold be kynge wit^ crowne,
And how ayther of theym had other slayn,
And All that were to batayle bowne
At salysbery lay dede vpon the playne ; 3597
(452)
Also in londe herd hyt kythe,
That made hys hert wonder sare,
quene Gaynoz^r, the kyngw wyffe,
Myche had levyd in sorow and care ; 3601
1 MS. leme.
3589 When he
reaches
Dover,
he hears all
about the
war and the
final battle at
Salisbury.
He hears,
moreover,
that the
Sueen with
ve ladies
has gone no
one knows
where.
/
110 Lancelot lights on the Queen's nunnery.
A-way she went wit// ladyes fyve,
In lond they wyste not whedyr whar,
Dolwyn dede or to be on lyve ;
That made hys mornyng moche the mare. 3605
(453)
Lancelot tolls lancelot clepid hys kyngts wtt^ crowne,
he it going Syr bors stode hym nere be-syde ;
that thCT he sayd : " lordyngw, I wytt wend to-fome,
him fifteen And by these bankys ye shatt A-byde 3609
Vnto fyftene dayes at the mome.
In lond what so euyr vs be-tyde,
To herkyn what lord hys lyffe hathe lome,
loke ye Eappe yow not vp to Kyde." 3613
(454)
There had he nouther Eoo ne Eeste,
But forthe he went wM drery mode,
For three And iij dayes he went euyn weste,
westward, As man that cowde nother yvett nor good ; 3617
Than syghe he where A towre by weste
Was byggyd by A bumys flode ;
There he hopyd it were beste
For to gete hym som lyves stode. 3621
(455)
tiu by chance As he Cam throw A cloyster clere —
the nunnery Att-moste f or wepynge he was mad —
qaeen was. he See A lady bryght of lere,
In nonnys clothyng was she clad. 3625
The queen Thryse she swownyd swyf tely there,
swoons at the o j. v • x *
eight of him, So stronge paynes she was m stadi
be taken to That many A man^ than) nyghed hyr nere,
her chamber. .-i,* i i i^ii a^^^
And to hyr chambyr was she ladde. 3629
(456)
The nuns do " Mercy, madame," they sayd AH,
[leaf 180] For Ihcsu, that is kynge of blysse,
quin»?* Is there Any byrd in boure or halle
trouble; ^^^ wrathcd yow?" she sayd : " nay, I-wysse." 3633
^ nonne?
The Queen implores Lancelot to return to his kingdom. Ill
lancelot to hyr gan ihey calle, they caj/
The Abbes and the other nonnys I-wysse, before her.
They that wonyd wtt^-in the walle ; owever.
In covnselle there than sayd she^ thas : 3637
(457)
'' Abbes, to you I knowlache here and she teus
That throw thys ylke man And me, «nd the other
/ t' t' ' vnxk% that she
I For we to^edyr han loved vs dere, *nd ^« "»»»
*' •' ' have been the
Ail thys sorowfuH werre hathe be : 3641 «a~of aii
•^ ' the war,
my lord is slayne, that had no pcre.
And many A doughty knyght And free ;
There-fore for sorowe I dyed nere.
As sone As I euyr hym gan see — 3645
(458)
Whan I hym see, the sothe to say,
AH my herte by-gan to colde.
That euyr I shuld A-byde thys day,
To se so many barons bolde 3649
Shuld for vs be slayne A-way ;
Oure wylle hathe be to sore bought sold ; but that now
But god, that AH myghtt^ maye, thought
Now hathe me sette where I wyH hold : 3653 «i^»tion of
'' ' heraool.
(459)
I-sette I am In suche A place,
my sowle hele I wyti A-byde,
Telle god send me som grace.
Throw mercy of* hys woundys wyde 3657
That I may do so in thys place
my synnys to A-mende thys ilke tyde,
After to haue A syght of« hys face
At domys day on hys Ryght syde. 3661
(460)
There-fore, syr lancelot du lake, she aooord-
inglybega
For my loue now I the pray, ^'•'**^?
my company thow Aye for-sake JSmiobte
And to thy kyngdome thow take thy way ; 3665
* MS. they.
112 LameelU uri$k€$ to lice like the Queen.
And kepc thj Reme from wene and wiake,
■**^ ■■** ^^^ ^^^ ^ wyffc with her to play,
^><*- And loue wele than thj woiidys make,
God } iff yow loye togedyr, I pray I 3669
(461)
Vnto god I pray, AH-myghty kynge,
he yeffe yow to-gedyr loye And blysse,
flb« bMMehM But I befsejche the in Att thynge
Mrajn to bav* That newyr in thy lyffe After thyssc 36/ 3
any com*
noniAUon Xc comc to me for no sokenmge,
with b«r. " ^ ',
Nor send me sond, bat dwelle in blysse ;
I pray to god euyr lastynge
[i«iif ISO, bk.] To^ Graunte me grace to mend my myase," 3677
(462)
huncr\»t ** Now, swete madame, that wold I not doo,
K'ninat tiii», To haue AH the world vnto my mede ^ ;
jSo vntrew fynd ye me neuyr mo ;
It for to do cryste me for-bede ! 3681
(463)
For-bode it god that euyr I shold
A-gaynste yow worche so grete vnryght,
Hyno wo to-gedyr vpon thys mold
ImiUi led owre lyfFe by day And nyght ! 3685
yH.iwmiiwio Vnto god I yifFe a heste to holde,
m&'h«'Si*T"'* Tho Hamo desteny that yow is dyghte
1 wiH Uossoyvo in som house bolde,
To ph'Bo horo- After god Att-myght; 3689
(464)
To pl(»aM(^ god Aft that I maye
I kUiiH horo-Aftor do myne entente,
H«|iuu And ouyr for yow specyAlly pray,
♦^nUliImHlly- Wlillo god wyft me lyfFe lente/' 3693
** A 1 wylto thow 80," tho quene gan say,
** KuH lyH thys forward that thou has mentl"
Ittuoolot Huyil : ** yiff* I sayd nay,
I wuiHi wolti worthy to be brent ; 3697
^ hvm th0 hp o/ Imf ISO, hwk, to the end Vie initial letter
« MS. uuule.
The parting of Lancelot and the Queen. 113
(465)
Brent to bene worthy I were,
Yiff* I wold take non soche A lyffe,
To byde in penance, as ye do here.
And 8a£Ere for god sorow and stryffe ; 3701
^As we in lykynge lyffed in fere,__
By mary moder, made and wyffe,
Tyti god vs departe with dethes dere,
To penance I yeld me here As blythe. 3705
declares that
beisgoinff
toleadiilife
ofpenaaoe
asahormit.
(466)
AH blyve to penance I wyti me take
As I may fynde Any ermyte
That wyH me Kesseyne for goddys sake,
me to clothe wtt^ whyte And blake." 3709
The sorow that the tone to the tother gan make
myght none erthely man se hytte.
** madame," than sayd laoncelot de lake,
** kysse me. And I shall wende as-tyte." 3713
(467)
" nay," sayd the quene, ** that wyfi I not ;
launcelot, thynke on that no more ;
To Absteyne vs we muste haue thought.
For suche we haue delyted in ore ; 3717
lett vs thynk on hym that vs hathe bought
And we shall please god ther-f ore ;
Thynke on thys world how there is noght
But warre And stryffe And batayle sore." 3721
At parting
wisheato
Idas the
queen.
bntshesajs
thattiMj
now and
think onlj
of God and
thetrooblos
of the world.
(468)
What helpeth lenger for to spelle 1
WiiJi that they gan departe in twene,
But none erthely man covde telle
The sorow that there by-gan to bene ;
Wryngyng ther handw and lowde they yelle,
As they neuyr more shuld blynne.
And sythe in swonne bothe downe they felle ;
Who saw that sorow euyr myght it mene.
MOBTE ARTHUR.
[leaflSl]
Lancelot and
the queen
part in great
sorrow.
3725
3729
114 Lancelot finds the Archbishop of Canterbury in a chapel.
(469)
and the But ladves than wtt^ mornyng chere,
attendants ^ ^ ^ , , , , ,
of each try In-to the chamoyr the quene they bare,
them. And AH futt besy made theym there
To cover the quene of* hyr care. 3733
many Also that ^ith lancelot were,
They comforte hym w[ith] rewf uH: care ;
Whan he was coveryd, he toke hys gere
And went frome thense wM-outen mare ; 3737
(470)
Lancelot hys hert was hevy As Any lede,
to a forest. And Icuer he was hys lyff e haue lorne ;
he sayd : ** Kyghtwosse god ! what is my Rede %
Alias ! for-bare, why was I borne 1 " 3741
A-way he went, as he had fled.
To A foreste that was hym by-fome ;
hys lyffe fayne he wold haue leuyd ;
hys Ryche A-tyre he wold haue of-tome. 3745
(471)
AH nyght gan he wepe And wrynge
And went A-boute As ]ie were wode ;
in which at Erely, As the day gan sprynge,
comes upon Tho syghe he where A cbapeii stode ; 3749
a chapel
where a A belle herd he rewfully Rynge ;
about to hold be hycd hym than And thedyr yode ;
A preste was Eedy for to synge,
And masse he herd yviih drery mode. 3753
(472)
It is the The Arshebysshoppe was ermyte thare,
Archbishop ^, « , i. , ,
of Canterbury That flcmyd was for hys werkys trew ;
who is sing- '' . , ,
Jn»mw«»and The masse he sange with syghyng sare,
is there. And oftc he changyd hyde and hewe ; 3757
Syr bedwere had sorow And care
And ofte momyd for tho werkys newe ;
They Aftyr massc was momy[n]ge mare,
recoflmise ■ l j
each other. Whan Iche of* hem othyr knewe. 3761
Lancelot becomes a hermit.
115
(473)
Whan the sorow was to the ende,
The byshope toke hys obbyte thare,
And welcomyd laimcelot as the hend,
And on hys knees downe gan he fare :
" Syr, ye be welcome as oure frende
Vnto thys byggying in bankys bare ;
Were it yower wyH: -with vs to lende
Thys one nyght, yif* ye may [no] mare ! "
The arch-
bishop wel-
comes
Lancelot,
[leaf 181, bk.]
3765
3769
(474)
Whan they hym knew at the laste,
Feyre in Armys they gan hym folde.
And sythe he askyd frely faste
Off* Arthur And of other bolde ;
An_C tymes hys hert ne[re] braste,
Whyle syr Bedwere the tale tol(J.
To Arthnr-is tombe he caste,
Hys careful! corage wexid All cold ;
who is filled
^ ^*- ^ with sorrow
3773 when sir
Bedwere tells
him of
Arthur's end.
3777
(475)
Hej^Bwiys armys to the walle,
That Ryche were and bryght of blee ;
By-fore the e[r]myte he gan downe falle,
And comely knelyd vpon hys knee ;
Than he shrove hym of* hys synnes Alle
And prayd he myght hys broder be.
To serue god in boure and halle,
That myght-f uti kynge of* mercy f ree,
(476)
That holy bisshope nold not blynne.
But blythe was to do hys boone ;
He resseyuyd hym wtt/i wele and wynne
And thankyd Ihe«u trew in trone.
And shroffe hym ther of hys synne,
As clene as he had neuyr done none ;
And sythe he kyste hym cheke and chynne
And an Abbyte there dyd hym vpon.
3781
3785
Lancelot is
shriven of
his sins, and
beffsthe
archbishop
to accept him
as a brother-
hermit.
The arch-
bishop gladly
oonsento,
3789
and pats an
3793 Si&?onhSn.
116
Bors comes also to tlie chapel.
All this time
Lancelot's
host lay at
Dorer,
expectinir
hie return.
Finally with
fifty lords
Lyonell goes
in search of
Lancelot, but
is slain at
London.
(477)
hys grete hooate at dover laye,
And wende he shiild have comyn A-gayne,'
Tylle After by-felle vpon A dAy,
Syr lyoneH, that was mekyH of" mayne,
WiHi fy^ty lordys, the sothe to saye,
To seche hys lord he was full fayne ;
To london he toke the Ryght way ;
Alas for woo ! there was he slayne.
3797
3801
Bors
despatches
Lancelot's
host home,
and goes also
in search of
his lord.
He and Ector
go different
ways.
[leaf 182]
(478)
Bors De gawnes wold no lenger Abyde,
But buskyd hym And made Ail bowne,
And bad All the oste homeward Eyde —
God send theym wynd and wedyr Rownid — 3803
To seke lancelot wyll he Ryde.
Ector and eche dywerse wayes yode,
And bors sowght forthe the weste syde,
As ho that cowde nowther yveH nor gode. 3809
Bors comes
to the cliapel,
and wishing
to hear mass
there finds
Lancelot.
(479)
FuH Erly in A morow tyde
In A foreste he fownd A welle ;
he Rode euyr forthe by the Ryver syde,
TyU he had syght of* A chapelle ;
There at masse thought he A-byde ;
Rewf uUy he herd A belle Rynge ;
Ther lancelot he fand wtt/i mekello pryde
And prayd he myght vriih hym there dwelle.
3813
3817
In the space
of half>a*year
seven of the
friends had
gathered
to^rether at
this chapel.
(480)
Or the halfe yere were comen to the ende,
There was comyn of* there felowse sevyn^.
Where ychone had sought there frend,
Wiih sorowf utt herte And drery stevyn ;
had neuyr none wyll A-way to. wencf,
Whan they herd of* launcelot nevyn,
But All to-gedyr there gan they lendl,
As it was goddys wyH of* heuyn.
3821
3825
Lancelot feeU that his death is approaching. 117
(481)
holyche AH tho sevyn yerys
lancelot was preste and masse songe ;
In penance and in dyverse prayers
That lyffe hym thought no-thyng longe ;
Syr bors And hys other ferys
On bokys Redde and bellys Ronge ;
So lytett they wexe of lyn And lerys,
Theym to know it was stronge.
For seven
Jean they all
)d a Ufe of
penance and
prayer.
3829
3833
until they
were so thin
that one
conid scarcely
recofniise
them.
(482)
hytte felle A-gayne an euyn-tyde
That launcelot sekenyd sely sare ;
The bysshop he clepyd to his syde
And AH hys felaws lesse and mare ;
he sayd : " bretheme, I may no lenger A-byde,
my balefFuH blode of lyffe is bare ;
What bote is it to hele And hyde 1
my fowle flesshe wiH to erthe fare.
At last
Lancelot falls
sick.
3837
and tells his
companions
that he is
about to die.
3841
(483)
but, bretheme, I pray yow to-nyghtj
To-morow, whan ye fynde me dede,
vpon A here that ye wyH me dyght
And to loyes garde than me lede ; 3845
For the loue of god AH-myght,
Bery my body in that stede ;
Some tyme my trowthe ther-to I plyght.
Alias ! me for-thynketh that I so dyd." 3849
He entreats
them, when
he is dead,
to take his
body back
to Joyus
Gard.
(484)
.** mercy, syr," they Sayd AH three,
** for hys loue that dyed on Rode,
yif Any yveH haue greuyd the,
hyt ys bot hevynesse of yower blode ;
To-morow ye shaH better be.
Whan were ye but of comforte gode ] "
merely spake AH men but he.
But streyght vnto hys bed he yode,
They do not
believe that
lie is so near
death.
3853
[leaf 182, bk.]
__-.„ but he goes
3857 straight to
his bed.
118
The death of Lancelot,
Mid ffeUi the
archbiahop to
com* and
•hrive him.
(485)
And clepyd the bysshope hym vntylle,
And shrove hym of* hys synnes dene,
Off* AH hys synnes loude and stylle,
And of* hys synnes myche dyd he mene ;
Ther he Eesseyved with good wylle
God, mary-is sonne, mayden clene.
Than bors of wepyng had neuyr hys fylle ;
To bedde they yede than Ati by-dene.
3861
3865
A little while
before dny
the arch-
biihop
fdffhtene
every one by
laughinff in
hie sleep.
He is sorry
wlien they
awaken him,
(486)
A lyteH whyle by-fore the day,
As the bysshop lay in hys bed,
A laughter toke hym there he laye,
That Att they were Ryght sore A-drecJ.
They wakenyd hym, for sothe to saye,
And Askyd yif he were hard by-sted.
he sayd : ** Alias And wele A-way !
Why ne had I lenger thus be led(J ?
3869
3873
and tells
tliem tliat ho
hns had a
beautiful
vision of an
anfcellc host
bearlntf
Lanoalut to
heavlll.
(487)
Alias ! why nyghed ye me nye.
To A-wake me in word or stevyn ?
here was launcelot bryght of blee
With Angellis xxx thousand and sevyn ;
hym they bare vp on hye ;
A-gaynste hym openyd the gatys of hevyn ;
Suche A syght Ryght now I see,
Is none in erthe that myght it nevyn."
3877
3881
They reflise
to believe
tliat Lancelot
is dead,
but when
they go to
his bed,
they And that
lie is.
(488)
'*Syr," thay sayd, ** for crosse on Rode,
Dothe suche wordys clene A-way.
Syr lancelot eylythe no-thynge but gode ;
he shall be hole by pryme of day." 3885
Candeli they lyght And to hym yode.
And fownde hym dede, for sothe to saye.
Rede and fayer of* flesshe and blode,
Ryght As he in slepynge laye. 3889
Lancelot's body is taken to Joyus Gard.
119
(489)
** Alias ! syr bors, that I was bome !
That euyr I shuld see thys in dede !
The beste knyght hys lyffe hathe lome
That euyr in stoure by-strode A stede. 3893
Ihesu that crownyd was vfiih thome,
In heuyn hys soule foster and f ede ! " ^
Vnto the fyfty day at the mome
They lefte not for to synge And Rede,
(490)
And After they made theym A here,
The bysshop and these other bol(J,
And forthe they wente, AH: in fere
To loyes garde, that Eyche hold. 3901
In A chapeH: a-myddys the quere
A graue they made as thay wolcP,
And iij dayes they wakyd hym there,
In the casteli \fi\h carys cold*. 3905
(491)
Ryght as they stode A-boute the bere
And to bereynge hym shold haue browght,
In cam syr Ector, hys brodyr dere.
That vij yere A-fore had hym sought. 3909
he lokyd vp in-to the quere ;
To here A masse than had he thought ;
For that they AH Eavysshyd Were,
They knew hym and he hem nought.
* (492)
Syr bors bothe wepte And songe.
Whan they that feyre faste vnfold ;
There was none but hys handys wrange.
The bysshop nor none of* the other bold. 3917
Syr Ector than thought longe ;
What thys corps was f eyne wete he wolde ;
An C tymes hys herte nye sprange,
By that bors had hym the tale tolde. 3921
^ In the MS, this liiie follows U 3897.
The
archbishop
laments
Lancelot's
death.
and they hold
services for
3897 his soul.
and after-
wards they
[leaf 183]
bear the body
to Joyus
Gard, and
bury it in a
chapel there.
Just as they
were burying
him, Ector,
who had
been looking
for Lancelot
for seven
years, comes
Koone
recognises
3913 him at first.
He inquires
whose oorpse
it is, and his
heart is
almost
broken when
Bors tells
him that it
ia Lancelot's.
120 Lancelot's companions return to their chapel.
ThtyftU
embrmce
Lancelot's
dead body.
and Ector is
almoatcraMd
withgrief.
At last the
burial is
completed.
(493)
FuH hendely syr bore to hym spakke
And sayd : " welcome, syr Ector, I-wysse ;
here lyethe my lord lancelot da lake,
for whome that we haue momyd thus." 3925
Than In Armys they gan hym take,
The dede body to clyppe And kysse,
And prayed Ati nyght he myght hym wake,
For IhesvL love, kynge of blysse. 3929
(494)
Syr Ector of hys wytte nere wente,
Walowed and wronge as he were wode ;
So wofully hys mone he mente,
hys sorow myngyd AH hys mode ; 3933
Whan the corps in Armys he hente,
The terys owte of hys yen yode ; ^
At the laste they myght no lenger stent.
But beryed hym vriih drery mode. 3937
(495)
Sythen on there knees they knelyd downe —
Grete sorow it was to se wtt^ syght —
" Vnto Ihc8U cryste Aske I A boone.
And to hys moder, mary bryght 3941
lord, As thow madyste bothe sonne and mone,
[leaf 188, bk.] And god And man arte moste of myght,
Brynge thys sowle vnto thy trone,
And euyr thow Eewdyste on gentyU knyght." 3945
and Lance-
lot's oom«
nanions pray
to JesQs
Christ and
his mother
on behalf of
the soul of
their lord.
Ector also
resolves to
become a
hermit.
and after a
fortnight's
journey th^
reach their
chapel again.
(496)
Syr Ector tent not to hys stede,
Whedyr he wold stynt or Eenne Away,
But wtt^ theym to dwelle and lede.
For lancelot Ati hys lyffe to pray.
On hym dyd he armytes wede,
And to hyr chapett went hyr way ;
A fourtenyght on fote they yede.
Or they home come, for sothe to say.
3949
3953
^ went was written "before yode aiid then struck out.
The Qtceen dies and is buried by Arthurs side. 121
(497)
Whan they came to Avmysbery,
Dede they faiiwde Gaynowr the quene,
With Eoddys f eyre and Eede as chery ;
And forthe they bare hyr theym by-twene,
And beryed hyr with masse fuli merry
By syr Arthur, as I yow mene.
Now hyght there chapeH: glassynbei^,^
An Abbay full Ryche, of* order clene.
(498)
Off lancelot du lake telle I no more,
But thus by-leve these ermytes sevyn ;
And yit is Arthur beryed thore, ^ ^
And quene Gaynour, as I yow nevyn ;
"With monkes that ar Ryght of lore.
They Rede and synge vfiih mylde stevyn :
" Ihe^u, that sufficed woundes sore,
Graunt vs AH the blysse of hevyn ! "
Amen.
3957
When they
come to
Ainesbury,
they find the
queeh dead
also.
3961
Tliev take
lier body to
their chapel,
which is
now called
Glastonbury, *
and bury it
by the side
of Arthur.
Thus the
seven com-
panions
remain there
as hermits.
3965
and pray
with their
monks that
Jesus may
^^"^ the bliss of
heaven.
Explycit le morte Arthur.^
^ Explycit le morte Arthur is repeated in differeini ink^ Imt
apparently the same hand.
122
NOTES.
1. Lordingis. This term is very commonly employed by the minstrels
in addressing their audiences. That it did not necessarily iniply noble
birth on the part of those who are thus addressed is evident from passages
like the Preamble of the * Pardoner's Tale,M. 329, where the Pardoner
uses it in speaking to the Canterbury Pilgrims, or again ' Havelok/ 1. 1401,
where the hero addresses as " Louerdinges " the sons of the fisherman,
Grim. In his note to * Athelston,* 1. 7 (' Englische Studien,' xiii, 345),
Zupitza has brought together a great many instances of the occurrence
of this term in the romances.
5. This uninflected genitive form recurs in 1. 3346. On the other
hand, we have the usual form Arthurs, 1. 260. The alliterative * Morte
Artliure' (Thornton MS.) shows the same variation. So Thiis endys the
emperour of Arthure hondes ( = by Arthur's hands), 1, 2225, but Me
angers emesUy at Arthures knyghte^, 1. 2838. In Middle English generally
the genitives of proper names often appear without an inflexional ending.
So frequently in the case of the name of Philip of Macedon in the ' Wars
of Alexander,* e.g. Alexander begins a letter : J, hyng PhUipp son \>e ferce
d; hys fayre ladys, 1. 2415. Cp. the same poem IL 2535, 2961, 4711. So
also in the 'Destruction of Troy,* Andromaca Worthy Ector
wyfe vxLS a we faire, 11. 3982 f. In this poem we have also Agamyrum as
a genitive, 1. 5403. In the * Holy Grail,* ch. xiii, 1. 739, we have And
whanne hyng ExuiUich steward this hehdd .... To him ward Rod he
A fxd gret pas. On this whole subject of uninflected genitives in Middle
English see * Anglia,' xxiv, pp.211 f., and especially PauFs *Grundriss der
Germanischen Philologie,* i, pp. 1086 f. (2nd edition).
14. For. This is no doubt the preposition.
18. For a similar scene where Arthur and his consort, as they lie in
bed together, discuss questions that concern the glory of the former, see
the Latin romance * De Ortu Waluuanii * (* Publications of the Modem
Language Association of America,' xiii, 424). One may compare with
these scenes the *' bolster-conversation " between Ailell and Meave which
begins the long train of incidents in the famous Irish epic of Tain B6
Cuailgne* (see the *CuchulIin Saga in Irish Literature* by Eleanor Hull,
London, 1898, pp. lllfF.). It is under similar circumstances that
Gomoille, the eldest daughter of King Lear, proposes to her husband in
Layamon*s * Brut ' (11. 3285 ff .) that they should deprive the old king of
a fourth of his knights. Cp. also the conversation between Darius and
Atossa in Herodotus, Book iii, chap. 134.
36. To dede of Arrays for to Ryde=hy riding to deeds of arms. This
construction seems to be repeated in 1. 2123. Cp. *Foure Sonnes of
Aymon,' p. 60, for ye knowe well the offence that your hroder hadde doon
to me, for to haue dayne soo cruelly Lohier. For examples of the infini-
tive thus used as the gerund see Kellner's edition of Caxton's *Blanchardyn
and Eglantine' (E. E. T. S.), Introduction, p. 65.
63. toith the dede=m the act, cp. 1. 1747. Also *Erl of Tolous,*
1. 526 : TTww* schalt take iis wyth the ded ; * Romaunt of the Rose,* 1. 7634 :
That ye shulde take him with the dede ; ' Octavian * (Southern version),
1. 229 : For sche ivo.s founds imth ]>e dede ;
Notes. Lines 79-110. 123
* Sir Tristrem,' 1. 3182 :
And Brengvxiin \>retned ay
To take hem in her dede.
79. ya swithe that thou Armyde he, Cp. 11. 211, 1573, 2550, 3335*
Cp. * Kichard Goer de Lion,' 11. 3066 ff. :
Takes a Sarezyne yonge and fat ;
In hade that the theff be sla^ifn,
Openyd and hys hyde offflayn.
Also 11. 3238, 3507. * Seuyn Sages/ 11. 649 ff. :
Goht he seigh to the prisone
And fechcheth forht mine sone,
And quik that he ivar an-honge
On heghe gcdewes and on stronge.
Also 1. 3974. * Destruction of Troy/ 11. 3610 ff. :
perfore wackon \>i vnlle into wight dedis^
And ]>ere as sikyng <h sorow dees the within
pat \>e harme \>at \>ou has amd hethyng with all
Fas noght vnponisshed for pitS ne other,
*Emare,' 11. 1004 f.:
And sayde : Lordy for \>yn honour
My worde pat }jou wyll here.
Cp. moreover, * Athelston,' 1. 374, ' Libeaus Desconus,' 1. 608, ' Sir Beues
of Hamtoun,' L 2286. In this construction a verb of wishing is, no doubt,
to be understood. The influence of the French que + the subjunctive in
expressing a wish or command is evident here.
99. Wyth his shuldres gorme he fold^ See under fold (4) in the * New
English Dictionary' : "To bend, bow (oneself) the body, or limbs)" and
the examples given in illustration, e.g. from the * Cursor Mundi,^' 8965
(Cott.): To \e tre sco can Mr fold. Cp. besides *Octavian* (Lincoln
MS. of the Northern version), 11. 891 ff. :
The childe hym hitt one ]>e schuLdir hone,
That to fe pappe ]>e swerde gan gone,
And ]>e geaunt to ]>e grounde gane folde.
The word is applied even to the heart in * Sir Eglamour of Artois,' 1. 726,
in the sense of " sink."
Of that worme when he had a syght
Hys herte hegan to folde.
105. The hinge stode on a toure on highte. Cp. * Sir Triamore,' 1. 1420 :
high on a tower stood that good Ladye; *Generydes,* 1. 2598 : Glarwnas
was on the tovn-e on hye ; * Sir Beues,' 1. 3357 : Saher stod on %s tour an
;ii3— also 11. 3033 ff, 4082; *Ipomedon,* B, 1. 1897 : The lady lay m an
hye toure.
110. is not to hyde. This formula is more frequent in tins romance
than in any other. Cp. * Ipomedon,' A, 11. 3955 f. :
Yedurday juste I here in white,
To-day in rede, ys not to hyde ;
• Ywain and Gawain,' 806 £ :
And soght him in \e maydens Iwll,
In chambers high (es noght at hide) ; t h ^
*Octavian' (Lincoln MS. of the Northern version), 1. 1277 : In Jterde es
noghte to hide. This last formula is particularly common in llorr
Childe,' cp. 11. 39, 57, 669, 751. For examples of this »^<* ™^i^
expressions (ys not to layne, etc.), see Breul's *Sir Gowttier, pp. not
124 Notes. Lines 117-315.
117. hraundisshxd yche a hotie, S. under brandish (\. c.) In 'N. E. D/
"To flourish about, move vigorously (tlie limbs, the head, etc.)." The
verb is commoner used absolutely without direct object, and with tiie
sense of ** to swagger." Cp. * Babees Book,' How the Good Wyfe taught
'her Daughter, 38 : Braundische not toith fin heed.
165. Sir J the semys a noUe kn[t\ght. Cp. *Morte Arthure' (Lincoln
MS.). 1. 139 : By lukynge withotcttyn lesse, a lyon (he semys, * Rowlande
and Ottuell,* 1. 862, fwm semes bathe felle andferse, * Wars of Alexander,'
1. 2000 : Bot faim semys to be softe^ as fees sedis preuez — also IL 3036,
5399. It will be noticed that the construction is impersonaL For other
curious impersonal constructions of the Middle English observe * Libeaas
Desconus ' (Cotton MS.), 1. 566 : \>e ne askapeih so auxvy ; * Ipomedon,' A,
1. 5182 : SertuSj «i/r, me owethe to wete. For seem and must in the imper-
sonal construction see L. Kellner, * Englische Studien,' xviii, 287 fl
179. hyr Bode was rede as blossom on brere, Cp. 'Seege of Troye,'
1. 1416; Here rode rede cm blosom on the brere ; *King of Tars,* IL 13 t:
Chaast heo was «t* feir of chere
Wi\> rode red so hLosme on brere.
* Sjnre Gawene and the Carle of Carelyle,* L 367 : Her roode was reede, her
chek rounde. ' Death and Liffe/ 11. 65 f. :
shee was brighter of her blee then was the bright sonn,
her rvdd redder then the rose, that on the rise ha/ngeik.
* Eger and Grine,' 1. 217 : her nid ^vas red as rose in raine. In the
Northern version of * Octavian ' (Lincoln MS.), 1. 41, we have whyte 90 blos-
soms on }>e brere. For the expressions her rode was red and as bry^t as
Uosme on brere, see still further respectively Kaluza's note to ' Libeaus
Desconus,' 938, and Zupitzu's to * Athelston,' 72.
190. other mo. Cf. ' Beues of Hamtoun,' 1. 3410 : Wei ten \>08end o\)er
mo; 'Sir Eglamour of Artois,' 1. 480: On us a/nd odwr moo; *Seuyn
Sages,' 11. 3645:
The steward wendes, the chUde alsuxi,
And with tham other many ma,
202. Formene giffthe no thynge lUe. See 821, 1324. Cp. * Ysumbras,'
1. 109 : They wepede aUe and gafe \jam iU ; ibid. 304 : \)e lady grete and aafe
hir HI ; 'Emare,' 1. 778 : Bothe they \oeipte and yaf hem iUe ; 'Octavian'
(Lincoln MS. of the Northern version), 1. 75 : Oyffe ^ow no thynge tKe.
For give in the sense of to " make account of," out of which the above
formula has developed, see Zupitza, *Guy of WarwicJ^,' 1. 4459.
266. Breme as Any unlde bore. The formula breme as bore is very
frequent in this romance. Cp. 951, 1600, 2101, 2214, 2606, 3249. Cp.
* Cursor Mundi,' 1. 4899 : \fe sargantz \>at ware brent aU bare. * Golagros
and Gawane,' 1. 822 : He wourdis brym as ane bair ; Malory's * Morte
Darthur,' p. 820 : Sao vpon the mome there came syre GawoAfne, as brym as
ony bore. Cp. also * Ferumbras,' 1. 545, * Sege of Melayne,' 1. 969, * Romance
of Duke Rowlande and of Sir Ottuell of Spayne,' 1. 166. The expression is
even found in sixteenth century English, * Roister Doister,' iv, 6 : Never
bore so brymme nor tost so hot.
315. by them one two. So * Octavian ' (Lincoln MS. of the Northern
version), 11. 1347 flf. :
Lady, ^joe one two
By \>e reuer banke salle go
That he may vs see.
Cp. also * William of Paleme,' 1. 1415 : nan knew here cwiseUe but \>ei \>re
one. 'Morte Arthure ' (Lincoln MS.), 1. 3195 : AUe the seruitours are sette
Notes. Lines 389-486. 125
sere be thame one, * Wars of Alexander,* 1. 755* : And stighUlys hym in
8om stede, by hym one,
389. For why \>at = provided that. This use is exceptional.
. 399, What he had herd and sene with sight The second member of
this clause has frequent parallels in our poem. So 11. 673, 1476, 1627,
1871, 2002, 2143, 2191, 3301. Cp. ^Ferumbras,' 1. 193: \Kity so longe
scholde lyue alas, to sen hit loith my si^te, * Sege of Melayne,' 11. 893 f. :
And afayre oste of brede \>ev appon hefande
\>at euer he sawe with syghte.
•Libeaus Desconus,' II. 1447 ff. :
What? wenest \>ou fendes fere,
TJncristened \>at I were,
Till I si^ pe wi\> si^t ?
402. a fdyd knight. For the verb " to fool " in the intransitive sense
see under /ooi (1) in the *N. E. D.' "To be or become foolish or insane,"
and the examples, * Cleanness,* 1. 1422 : cd wa/yhned his wyt dh wd ne^e he
fcHes. Barbour's « Bruce ' (Edinburgh MS.), iv, 222 f. :
Bot he fulyt, forouten weir,
That gaf treuth to that creatwre,
411. hole and fere. For examples of this phrase see HalFs note to
* King Horn,* 1.149.
426. For the uninflected genitiv^e cp. * Beues of Hamtoun,* 1. 3193 ;
Sire, 2he seide to \>at erl sone
* I(^ oidde, \>ow graunte me a bone.'
For such uninflected genitives in the case of proper names and titles see
note to 1. 5, above.' The want of inflection in such cases is due no doubt
to the influence of the Old French uninflected genitive very largely,
480. " Ector,^' he sa/yd, ^^ where thou it were.
That woundid me thus wondir sore ? "
So 11. 3006, 3456. For where ( = whether) introducing a direct question
cp. * Piers Plowman,' C. xvii, 336 : " Wher derkus knowe hym nat " quoth
ich " that kepen hdy churche ? " — also C. xx, 25. * House of Fame,* iii,
1779 ff.:
What ? false theves ! wher ye wolde
Be famous good, and nothing nolde
Deserve why ?
' Syre Gawene and the Carle of Carlyle,* 11. 509 f. :
Uher I scha^ se enny mor ]ns kny^t
That hathe ley my body so ner,
Cp. also * Wars of Alexander,* 11. 2910, 3810, * Cleanness,* 1. 717,
• York Plays,' xxi, 259:
486, Syr lyonelle by god \>an swore
That myne wolle sene be euyr more.
For direct discourse introduced by that compare the * Anglo-Saxon Gospel
of St, John,* i, 32 : Johannes cydde geioitnesse cwe^ende \>aet ic ^eseah
wyiiercumend/ne Gast of heofenwm. This construction is frequent m the
Anglo-Saxon Gospels owing to the influence of the Latin original which
derived it in turn from the Greek. See Gorrell, 'Publications of the
Modem Language Association of America,* x, 350. Many examples
for the French are given by Tobler in ' Vermischte Beitrage zur franzo-
sischen Grammatik,* i, 218 ff., e. g. Robert de Clary's * Prise de Constanti-
nople,' 88 : et apres dist Agdanz que " se ma, gent est vaincue, je prendre
126 Notes. Lines 556-764.
baptesme" The construction is not frequent in Middle English, bat cp.
* Seuyn Sages,' 11. 3740 I :
The yonger Mis that " myne sho ys ;
For I haue toond with hir cUtoay."
Caxton's * Blanchardyn and Eglantine/ 184 : He sayd fuU angerly to the
dyuMrd that to an euM owre hath your lady hen so madde as to mary her
self to a ladde. Cp. Kellner's ' Introduction to Blanchardyn and Eglan-
tine,* p. 90, and for the whole subject of abrupt changes from indirect
to direct discourse in Middle English, ibid. 98 ff., and Zupitza*8 note to
' Guy of Warwick,' 1. 1785.
556. Sir yif liiat youre loiUis were, Cp. Barbour's * Bruce,' i, 618 :
Tharfor giff that ^our unUis wer — also ibid, xix, 158. ' Towneley Plays,'
xxii, 277 : Dere lady^ if thi wiU were,
I mitst tdl tythytigys playn,
* Ipomedon,* B, 1. 270 : yff your wiUe he. * Richard Coer de Lion,'
11. 5234 ff. :
To Kyng Richard forth he wente
And prayedy yiff his wyUe be,
Off bata^ hetwen thre.
So * Sir Emare,' 1. 919 : ' Horn Childe,* 1. 979 ; ' Seuyn Sages,' U. 123, 133,
etc.; 'Octavian* (Northern version, Lincoln MS.), 1. 417. Cp. also
Hairs note to *King Horn,' 1. 193.
589. so thryve or thro, Cp. * Pearl,' 11. 867 ff. :
I seahe, says lohan, pe Ummbe hym stande.
On pe mount of syon fid \yryuen db \)ro,
' Cursor Mundi,' U. 14806 ff. :
fast es he throd and thriuen
And mikel gra^e ai es himgiuen ;
* Destruction of Troy,* 1. 6537 : With \>re thowsawnd pro men Yriuond in
armys.
595. Be the coUmres I it knew, knew here is subjunctive.
651. That nighe of witte she wold wede. So 11. 787, 914. Cp.
'Octavian' (Northern version, Lincoln MS.), 1. 1511 : Of wiU als he
wolde wede, * Wars of Alexander,' 1. 1410 : Went wode of \>aire witt.
For similar expressions see Hall's note to ^ King Horn,' 1. 1084.
657. That wist-e of hyrpriuete. Cp. * Arthour and Merlin,' 1. 12 :
For 'pai mo toiten d; se
Miche of godes priuete.
* Eger and Grine,' 1. 362 : shee shall knoxo notJiing of our priuitye. ' Sir
Eglamour of Artois,' 1. 62 : Ye haue tolde me yowre prevyte. Handlyng
Synne, 11. 397 1 :
And sum heyn goddys pryuyte
pat he shetuy}> to wame J>c.
* Squyr of Lowe Degre,' 11. 511 f. :
He wende in the worlde none had bene
That had knowen of his pryuite
—also 1. 990 ; cp. besides «Wars of Alexander,' 11. 255, 2878, 3613.
75L In da/y tylle I be dongyn colde, Cp. 'Hymns to the Virgin,'
(E.E.T.S. 1867}, 1. 86 : In coold day now schal y dinge ; Boddeker's
' Altenglische Dichtungen des MS. Harl. 2253,' p. 211 : dingep so l^e dai.
764. for crosse and Bode. Cp. * Athelston,' 1. 169 : parme swoor \>e
kyng be cros and roode. The usual formula in our poem is crosse on Bode.
So 11. 2576, 2880, 2928, 3112, 3452, 3882. This last is probably the
Notes. Lines 770-1083. 127
original form of the expression, in which case the word crosse would
mean the horizontal cross-piece on the cross.
770. Now haue good day, my lady fre. This common formula of
parting is illustrated by Hall in his note to * King Horn,' 11. 727 f. For
formulas of leave-taking in general see Kaluza to ^Libeaus Desconus,'
1. 1051, and Kolbing to ' Ipomedon,' 1. 298.
782. Vp he vxyi-this vppon his stede. Cp. *Sowdone of Babylone/
I. 1163 : Thai worthed vp on here stedes: * Ipomedon,' B, 1. 1489 : Anon
he worthyd vppon his stede. * Torrent of Portyngale,' 11. 627 f. :
On he dyd hys harnes ageyne
And worthe on hys sted, serteyne.
For expressions for mounting in general in Middle English see Zupitza,
* Athelston,' 1. 381.
933. For the apparent inconsistency in the narrative here see
Introduction under the head of Source, pp. xvii f.
983. By-gynne wtUe auntres or aught yare, yare here is the adverb =
quickly as in * Kin.c: Horn,' 11. 46R f. :
d' tolde himfvZ yire
Hic he hadde if are.
991. hayne here of course does not mean "both," as Seyferth
(p. 36) assumes, but "readily" — i, e. it is derived from O.N. heinn, not
O.E. higen.
1017. Thirike ye not on this endris day, Cp. 1. 1105. See ender in
* N. E. D.' " Only in phrase, This ender day, night, year, indicating a day,
etc., recently past." Cp. also the examples there given. 'Confessio
Amantis,' v. 7400 f.:
This ender day as I ganfare
To hunte tmto the grete hert.
'Thomas of Erceldoune,' 1. 25 (Thornton MS.) :
I me went \ns Endres doAje
ffast on my way mdkyng my mone.
* Ghiy of Warwick,' 11. 2827 f. :
He sle'ioe my lordys sone \e emperoure
Thys endurs day in a sbowre.
* Sir Lambewell,' 1. 282 : I shall die this yenders night * Ipomedon,' B,
II. 849 f :
" I am " he sayd " \>e si/raiige squyere
That servyd my lady pis endris yere^
1019. Stode togedir in youre play. As J. Hall has remarked (*K.^
Horn,' 1. 32), the verb to play means usually to ride out by wood or
water. The meaning of the noun often corresponds to this, but not in
the present instance.
1063. Notice the concessive force of the infinitive clause here. Cp.
note to 1. 36.
1083. Alle churlysshe maners he had in wone. The word wone here
means * abundance.' Cp. * Legend of Good Women,' 11. 1651 f. :
Now hath lasoun tJie flees a/nd home is went
With Medea and tresorful gret won.
* Piers Plowman,' C. xxiii, 171 : And gafhym gold, good won. 'Golagros
and Gawane,' 11. 36 f. :
And all thair vittalis tear gone
That thay weHdit in wone.
128 Notes. Lines 1093-1412.
* Richard Coer de Lion,' 1. 6125 : Off tresore they hadde so mekyl wonne.
*HomChilde,Ml. 778f. :
per Ham seiyR \>e megt \trang
In he rides Mm amang
d: lays on tod gode won,
*Seuyn Sages,' 11. 2817 ff.:
The empermore a/nd his men Ukane
Of the Sarezins dogh gode toane.
For other examples see Kittredge, 'Authorship of Romaont of Rose,'
p. 37. For the derivation of this word from Icelandic vdn see Zupitza's
note to * Guy of Warwick,' 1. 10329.
1093. And teas of hlysse I-hroxoghte Alle hare, Cp. * Libeaus Desconus,'
1. 2088 : Of Uiss he was all bare, ' Amis and Amiloun,' I. 2338 : For me
of bits \>ou art al bare, * Ipomedon,* A, 1. 2204 : Off blis I were fuU bare,
Cp. also * Seuyn Sages,' 1788 ; * Ferumbras,' 225 ; ' Sege of Melayne,' 198.
1134f. I sayde that hys bydyng bayne the dukys doughter of Ascolote
voas, Cp. Horstmann's ^Nordenghsche Legendensammlang, St. Andrew/
1. 117 : To do his biding war \tai bayne, 'Turke and Gowin' (Percy
Folio, i, 94) : I will be att thy bidding baine ; 'John de Reeve,' 1. 504
(Percy Folio, ii, 578) : att your bidding wee wUl be baine ; ' York Plays,'
XX, 284 : And to per bidding bayndy bowe. The spelling with one d is
frequent in the York and Towneley Plays. Cp. 'Towneley Plays,' xx,
616 : and bow to thi bydyng as bachlers shold. So also xxii, 1.
1141. dede is that white as swan/ne. The phrase is used of the male
sex as well. Cp. * Seuyn Sages,' IL 77 f. :
The thrid maister was litd man,
Fair ofchere and white as swan,
* Octavian' (South English version), 11. 553 fL :
A tygre pey seye per yn her dan,
And a mcmchyld whyt as swaii
Sok of Jier as of a woman.
Examples of similar phrases are the following : ' Sir Triamore,' 1. 649 : shee
was as white as lUye flower (see also * Le Morte Arthur,' 2994). 'Sir
Degree,' 11. 15 f. :
The King had no more Children but one,
a daughter white as whales bone,
^ ^ For a very full enumeration of such comparisons in the romances, see
Hall's note to * King Horn,' 1. 15.
1144. The quene ivas as wrothe as wynde. For examples of this
formula, cp. * Piers Plowman,' C. iv, 486 : As wroih as the toynd wex
Mede ther(rfter, and so again * Richard the Redeless,* iii, 153. * Patience,' 1.
410: He wex as wroth as pe wynde towards oure lorde. Other examples
are * Sir Gawain and the Green'Knight,* 1. 318; 'Golagros and Gawane,' 1.
770; 'Coventry Mysteries' (Prologue), p. 8. As will be observed, the
formula was not Langland's property, as M. Jusserand seems to think
(' L'Epop^e mystique de William Langland,' p. 185).
1380. Madame, how may thou to us take. Here take to = betake one-
self to, conmdt. Cp. * Piers Plowman,' C. vii, 154 :
And yfich telle eny tales, thei taken hem to-geders
And don mefaste Fridaies to bred and to water,
where, however, the verb is reflexive.
1412. yiidle haue t be-sette the dede, Cp. *Sir Triamore,' 11. 339 f. :
Then ivaxed he wrath, I loeene,
ct' held his low-ney euill besett.
Notes. Lines 1537-1904. 129
* Octavian ' (Northern version, LiDcoln MS.), 11. 870 ff. :
Now thynke rne righte in my mode
That \>ou hose wde hysett our gvde.
1537. here hertys worde = tlie words they had spoken privily together.
1557. hys visere ouer hys menfalle. N. b. faUe here is the preterite.
1576 f. Also hlythe Asfovie of day after the nyght Cp. * Sir Degree,'
11. 802 fE. :
<b shee teas glad to see that sigtit
as e^ier the bird teas of daylight.
* Octavian' (Northern version, Lincoln MS.), 11. 490 ffl :
Als blythe were \>ay J^ane of \)at syghte
Als es \>efotdles, whene it es lighte,
Of \>e dayes glevne,
* Beues of Hamtoun,' U. 148 ff. :
(bladder ichamfor \>at sawe
pan \>e fouel, whan hit ginneth dawe,
* Horn ChUde,' 11. 754 ff. :
6; \>an was Horn as fain o si^t
As is \>efovle of \>e li^t.
When it ginneth dawe,
Cp. also * Genesis,' 1. 16. Other examples are given by Kolbing, * Beues
of Hamtoun,' 1. 148.
1644. Thov/ghe syr mador myght not go ne Ryde, Cp. * Seuyn Sages,'
11. 3535 ff. :
Nay^ series^ it sal noght be swa,
WhUs that I may ride and ga,
* Seege of Troye,' 11. 1223 f. :
Shvld yy wheder I may go or ryde^
8e my fader swyche shams betyde ?
For other examples see Kittredge, ' Authorship of the English Romaunt of
the Rose,' p. 17 (Boston, 1892).
1893. the = they. For this spelling of they cp. * Destruction of Troy,'
1. 4361: And \>e sun the saidoni sothely a god. *Sir lohn Butler' (Percy
Folio MS.), 1. 37: thS sought that hall then vp and doune. * Young
Cloudeslie,' Percy Folio MS., 1. 399 : ^' bring her ^ for gods loue'* said thi
all. The spelling is particularly common in Bisliop Percy's Folio MS.,
but is found throughout Middle English. More surprising perhaps is the
spelling they for the definite article the. This likewise is frequent in the
Percy MS. Cp. ' Sir Degree,' 11. 105 f :
yett peradventtire they time may come
that I m>ay speake with my oume sonne.
So 11. 25, 119. * Eger and Grine,' 1. 37: they Ladye granted her good vnll.
*SirTriamore,Ml. 502ff.:
when they Lords were sett at uneate^ soone
the grayhonnd into the hall runn
amonge the knights gay.
Cp. also Louelich's * Holy Grail,' chap. 35, 1. 423 et passim.
1904. Mordreit than toke A wayfidl gayne. Cp. * William of Palerne,'
1. 4189, \>e geynest gatis. * Rauf Coiljear,' 1. 201, Quhair gangis thow, ged-
ling, thir gaitis sa gane f Lidgate, 'Thebes,' 1. 2148 : At a posteme forth
they gonms to ride By a gein pa\>. Much commoner is the phrase at \>e
awynest = by the shortest road possible. 'Morte Arthure' (Lincoln MS.),
I. 3114 : To \>e cete vnsene thay soghte at \>e gaynesfe. 'Sir Gawayne and
MORTE ARTHUR. K
130 Notes. Lines 1957-2133.
the Green Knight,* 1. 1973 : /[e]rA; Jwtn \>e fryth <fc fare at \>e paynest. For
the parallel expressions, taJce the reay \cay, etc., see Zupitza, * Guy of
Warwick; 1. 10078, and Kolbing's *Ipomedon,' 1. 8731.
1957. Be he had made a lyteUe Bese, Be as a conjunction = hythe
time ihatj is not recorded in Matzner's ' Altenglisches Worterbuch,* Strat-
mann-Bradley, or the *N. E.D.* The above, however, is an evident
example. Cp. also * Sir Eglamour,' 11. 682 &. :
Be xij wekys toere comyii and gone,
CrystyabdU a$ wh/yte asfome,
AUe pale was hur hewe,
* Towneley Plays,' xxi, 13 f. :
Bot at last «fcatt toe he out of haii kmging.
Be thou haue had ttoo or three hetys worth a hanging.
' Destruction of Troy,' 1. 814 : By the renke hade hym redid ryses the sun.
* Merline* (Percy Folio), 11. 2132 ff. : d- by they had rydden a stonde . . .
he mett with Merlyn on the playne. * Wars of Alexander,' 1. 3900 : Be ])ai
hadfyneschid Insfi^t, wasferre in with euyn. So also 11. 4437, 5163. For
examples of he \>at in the same sense cp. ' Lay le Freine,' 1. 232. ^Octavian'
(Northern version, Cambridge MS.), 1. 1639.
1979. daheriet hys hrother is de^e hym fro. Similarly in * York Plays,'
xxxviii, 11. 189 ff. :
My sorowe is aUfor \>at sight
pat I gune see,
Howe Criste my maistir, moste of myght,
Isdedefro me.
Cp. likewise, * York Plays,' vi, 6 : pe joie of heiien \>at thaym was lent is
lost thaym froo. Also in this romance, 1. 654.
1992. Gaheriet eyUs noght but goode. Cp. * Triamour,' A, 1. 909 : Me
eylyth nothyng but gode. * Guy of Warwick,' B, 6184 : Tyrrye sehaU eyle
no\>yng hut gode. For other examples see Kolbing's note to ' Ipomedon,'
1215.
2104. Bayses spere and gounfanoune. Phrase often used to denote the
beginning of an expedition or battle. Cp. 11. 2153, 2527. For gounfa-
noune cp. *N. E. D.' " In the middle ages chiefly applied to the small flag
or pennon suspended immediately beneath the steel head of a knight's
lance " — also such examples as * Sir Tristrem,' 1. 173: Me had his knirtes . . .
Com Wi\> hors and wepenesfde And rered goinfaynoun. 'Horn CJhilde,'
11. 65 f. : AUe were \>ai redi tofi^t
a/nd rered gonfeynoun.
*Romaunt of the Rose,' 1. 2018:
There of Love ihe gonfanoun,
Of curtesye the hanere.
2108. that Byche towne. Cp. * Guy of Warwick,' B, 1. 8317 : To Alys-
awndur he went, \>e ryche towne. For many examples of riche cite^ etc.
see Kolbing, * Ipomedon,' 1. 2031.
2133. Aswe ne dt(/rste no man nyghe nere. * Sir Ferumbras,' 1. 350,
\>e knyxt him nexede \>anne neer d; spak til him ]>at tide, * Rowlande and
Ottueir,' 11. 283 i :
Lete Duke Naymes lenge at hame
To kepe pareche wallesfro schame
pat no gledes neghe \>am nere.
' York Plays,' v. 36 ff.:
For oure Lord godforheedis vs itt,
Thefnde ]>er of Adam nor J,
to neqhe it nere.
Notes. Lines 2256-2547. 131
' York Plays/ iii, 370 : Yet, vxiter nyghys so nere that I sit not dry,
2256. Tylle ynglande he, the message, Gome. Here msssag e = m^essenger.
Cp. Chaucer's * Tale of Melibee,' § 71 : And therfore I conseiUe that ye
sende your m>€ssages, swiche as been discrete and wyse, unto your adver-
saries, * Troylus and Cryseyde/ ii, 936 f. : Tvx> or three of his messages
yeden For Fandaras,
2300. Wemen Arfrde of hyr entoAJle, Entayle meant originally cut,
fiyrm, and then quality. So * Richard Coer de Lion/ 1. 5669 : An hehne he
hadde off ryche entayle, * Confessio Amantis,' i, 1087 ff. ;
An Hors of Bras thei let do forge
That in this world was nevere man
That such an other werk began.
In the present passage the word means rwbture, disposition, Cp. * Confes-
sio Amantis; i, 11. 1252 ff. :
Forthi, my Sone, of svxih entaile
If that thin herte be disposed,
TeU out and let it noght be glosed,
2338. thar here is impersonal. Cp. * Wars of Alexander,' 11. 5377 ff. :
pe thare bot graunt me to getie quat guds as I craue
And I satt prestly \>at jprince present into ]>i handis.
So also 'Destruction of Troy/ 1. 2080.
2369. Ichone A braunche of olyffe in hande. For the olive branch
as a sign of peace cp. * Kyng Aiisaunder/ 11. 1700 ff. :
Theose comen, hond by horid,
Tofore Alisaundre in Tirdond,
And eche with a braunche of olyve
That was tohenyng of pes and lyue,
' Sege of Melayne/ 11. 1213 ff. :
pe Messangere bare a wande
Of ane Olefe in his hande
In takynnynge he come of pece,
* Generydes,' 11. 3144 ff. :
Anon these lordes went on ther message,
Eche man A brawnche of Olyve in his hande
In token of pece for ther viage.
* Octavian ' (Northern version, Lincoln MS.), 11. 1173 ff. :
For \>ab was \>at tym messangere lawe
A brawnche of olyue for to scheioe
And it in hand to bere ;
For the ordynaunce toas so,
Messengerys schulde sauely come and go.
And no man do them dere,
2457. Gremly teres lette they glyde, Cp. 1. 1512, 2083, 2457. Fot
glyde in the sense of fall see ' Kynge Roberd of Cysille,' 11. 384 f. :
And thorow that worde yfdle inpryde,
As the OAi/ngdle that can of hevyn glyde ( = Lucifer).
' Sir Perceval of Galles/ 11. 2115 f. :
Righte there appone the fair e molde
The ryng owte glade.
For other curious expressions for weeping cp. 1. 1544 : The terys ramie on
the kyngis kne. * Destruction of Troy,' 1. 865 : Sho broM out bright water
at hir brode een; ibid. 11. 1286:
Pit^ of \)at pert knight persit his hert
pat the shire water shot ouer his shene chekys*
182 Nates. Lines 2537-2751.
Also ibid. 1. 3300. The expression above in 1. 2457 does not appear
among the expressions for weeping given by Zupitza, ^ Athelston ' 1. 275,
and Breul, * Sir Gowther/ 1. 228.
2537. N. b. the omission of the subject Similarly in 1. 3598. Cp. also
* Seege of Troy/ 11. 1469 ff. :
Now shuU ye here of Achilles :
Whenne of bed arysyn ioas
Toioard the haiayle he came rydyiig.
< Beues of Hamtoun/ 11. 829 f.:
panne a sette horn to mou\>e
And blew \>e pris ase wel k(yii]>e.
< Sir Ferumbras/ 1.222:
By'}penk \>e how \nf blod ys schad d; hast a grislich vxmnde.
Cp. P. de Reurs ' Language of Caxton's Reynard the Fox ' (Ghent, 1901),
pp. 30 f. for instances of the same thing. For omission of the subject in
Old English see A. Pogatscher, ' Anglia/ xxiii, 261 ff.
2575. That longe wylle not droupe And dare. Cp. L. Minot*8 * Poems,' i, 9:
In Ins dale I droupe a/nd dare
For dem dedes \)at done me dere.
So * Awntyrs of Arthure' (Ireland MS.), 1. 52: Thay dro\ipun and daren.
See also * Morte Arthure ' (Lincoln MS.), 1. 4007, and ' Seege of Troy/ 1.
1413. The word dare here, which means "to tremble with fear," is of
obscure origin, and of course not identical with the common verb of that
form. According to the * N. E. D.' it does not appear in the documents
until about 1200. It is still in dialect use, not onljr in North Britain but
in the Midland and South and South-western districts. Cp. Wright's
* English Dialect Dictionary.'
2592. Such spellings as wile (= wolle) are particularly common in
Robert of Brunne's 'Handlyng Synne,' e.g. wrdys {=wordys\ 1. 545:
%Me (= w6Lde\ 1. 693, xorlde (= worUe), 1. 829, wnt (= wont), 1. 914.
2750. Owte he Bode A grete Bandoune, Cp. * Sowdone of Babylone,'
11. 200 f. : Forth than rode \>atfaire Ooste
With right goode chere and randon.
* Beues of Hamtoim,' II. 4499 :
He armede him in yrene wede
A)id lep vpon a steme stede
And rod forth itn> gret randoun.
* Libeaus Desconus,' 338 f. :
Togeder \>ey gonne ride
Wt]^ toell greet raundoun,
* Sir Degree,' 1. 446 : TJiey rode together then vnth great randome. ' Kyng
Alisaunder,* 11. 2483 ff. :
Ky}yj and duyk, eorl and baroun,
Prikid the stedis with gret raundoun.
' Sir Forumbraa,' 1. 890 :
]Mtn cam tU him a sarsyn proxU
pt^ikifng wi)) rendoun.
Also « ttiolmnl Co^r tit> Lion,* 1. 4815.
2761. (i^t(mi/»i h/ti Af covde of werre. So 1. 2892. Cp. * Seege of
Troye/ll. I04ft!\: ^
hjiitdt^imuliflii u\u 1^1^ namey
MiHht^ »h^ eoHxi of gle and game.
Notes. Lines 3166-3613. 133
*York Plays,' xxxi, 1. 148: Nay, my lorde, he can of no hourdyng,
' Libeaus Desconus/ 11. 1513 ff. :
For \ns fair lady
Cou\>e more of sorcery
\>en o\>er swichefive,
* Ipomedon,' A, 1. 319 : The hurgays cotvth of cmrtessye, ' Sir Degree,' 1.
681 : Sir Degree cold of curtesye. * Ipomedon/ B, 1. 792 : All men Iconne
not ofjustynge.
3166. And syr mordred can to the contre. can = gan^ and the verb of
going is omitted after the auxiliary as frequently in Modern German.
3172. Seyferth (pp. 18 f.) suggests here the substitution of *cled
"anstatt des siimlosen gledde." The alliteration, however, evidently
demands a form with g, so I have adopted the view of the * N. E. DJ (see
gled) that we have here a variant form of cled. Dr. Furnivall's gloss to
this word, viz. burning, glowing, is certainly not correct.
3339. Byght so they trotted vppon \>e grovmde. For trot in the general
sense of advance cp. *Wars of Alexander/ J. 2610: Trottis him on to
Tigre <fc \>are his tentis settis. Cp. also ibid. 1. 2988.
3407. Off bote they saw no better bdd, Cp. * Sir Tristrem,' 1. 1323 : Of
bot sche vxLs him beld. * Bone Florence of Rome,' 11. 1718 f. :
£tU as a woman dyscovmfortyd sare
Wythowten bote or bdde,
3422 f. : To the kynge spake he fuH sty^,
Bewffully as he myght than Bovme.
Cp. *Octavian' (Southern version), 11. 939 ff.:
Ech day he sente to toune
pat fowle Yyng to aske batayle with mfvll roune
Ayeiis \>e kyng.
3498. hdpe w€ sone that I ware there, Cp. ' Holy Grail,' ch. 56, 11.
347 f. : but hdpeth me hens Owt Anon
that Owt Of this Chambre I were gon.
* Generydes,' 1. 3784 : hdpe that I were Ai^myd anon, * Eger and Grine,'
11, 234 f.: hdpe that I were sounded with one sleepe
d; som^ Easment for me and m>y hackney,
* Libeaus Desconus,' 11. 660 f.:
Hdpe Libeaus Desconus
pat he wer nou^t y-schent,
*Sir Triamore,' 11. 443 f.:
h^lpe me, Sir, out of this Mischeefe !
att some towne that I were,
*Beuesof Hamtoun,' 1. 1627: And help \>at \>is f>efwerded. The same
construction occurs with that omitted. *Sir Ferumbras,' 1. 217:
Bo \>at myn armes sone be heer
<Sc hdp me y were a-rayde.
We have a curious extension of this construction in instances like the
following. * Beues of Hamtoun,' 11. 1080 :
losian, Jje faire maide,
Vn-arme Beues, he wer at mete
And serus \>e self him \>er ate.
3613. Idke ye Bappe yow notvpto B^yde. Cp. * Cursor Mundi,' 1. 25439 :
ri2]ape \>e Umerd nuforto ren, * JPiers Plowman,' C. ii, 90 f.: Kynges and
kwy^tes shoulde . . . llyden and rappe adoune in reames ahoute, * Destruc-
tion of Troy,' 1. 818 : And now rapis hym to ryse db rom from his bede.
< Rowlande and Ottuell,' 1. 255 :
Nay, sir, we tci'tt our baidU guy
134 Notes, Lines 3733-3940.
And rape vsfor to ryde
Agayne )>e Emperour, sir Crarcy,
3733. To cover the q\vene of hyr care. Cp. * Sir Ysumbras/ 11. 487 AT. :
\>e kyng stoare
When he were coxierde of his care
That he wclde dvJbbe hym knyghte.
«Athel8ton,Ml. 331f.:
Ood may cotiere hem off here care
Or \>at I depe a wynke,
*Morte Arthure' (Lincoln MS.), 1. 859: The care of \hU creatoure ccmer
aaU I neuer. 'Eri of Tolous,' 11. 382 ff. : Myght y oght get of that free
.... HytvxM covyr me of care, Horstmanu's ' Nordengliscne Legen-
densammiung, St. Nicholas, 1. 137 : And out of care so covered he. Cp.
also *Athel8ton/ 1. 41; *Octavian' (Northern version, Lincoln MS.),
L525.
3757. And ofte he changyd hyde and hewe. *Squyr of Lowe Degre/
11. 387 f. :
I wo\dde not for my crovone so netve
That lady chatmge hyde or hewe.
« Death and Liffe,' IL 157 f. :
<£? iiiee the ffoulest ffreake that formed was euer
both of hide (k hew.
* Richard Coer de Lion,' 11. 675 fl :
He was Ynglysch and wd trew
Be speche and syghte, hyde and hew.
* Eger and Grine,* 1. 263 : The Ladyefayre of Hew cfc hyde, ' Destruction
of Troy,' 11. 3908 f.:
pofreikes werefourmet offeturs \a']l%ke
Bothe of hyde d; of hew to hede of a mykeU.
* York Plays,* viii, 22 : And fordone hoyly^ hyde and he^ve. * Rowlands
and Ottuell,' 1. 1230 : FnUfa/yre of hewe d; hyde.
3764 Aiui wdcomyd launcdot as the hmd, *St Edmund the Con-
fessor,' 1. 102 : pis hdi chUd ne womde hire no^t ac d/iide as \>e hende ;
* Emare,' 1. 84 : He wdlcomed hym as \>e hende ; * Sir Eglamour of
Artois,' 1. 124 : Aftur mete do ye as hyiuie ; * Kyng Alysaunder,' 1. 6324 :
Ther [he"] dude noght as the wise !
3832. So lyte^ they wexe of lyn And lerys. Cp. ' Eger and Qrine,'
11. 597 ff. : for there is neither Lin nor light
that Egeking my swor^ meeteth with
hut gladlye it will through itt gone.
*Golagros and Gawane,' 11. 81 f.:
Schir Kay ruschit to the roist and reftfra the swane.
Lightly daught^ throu lust^ the lymfra the lyre.
Similarly * Hali Meidenhad,' p. 21 : Se ferliche ha driuen dun to pe eorthe^
\>at al ham is to-limety li^ ha S lire. ' St. Juliana,' p. 59 : As]Hxt istdede
im tO'limede hire d; to-leac li^ ha d; lire. As Matzner (* Altenglisches
Worterbuch') remarks, this lire (lyre) = Ags. lira^ meaiiing flesh, musde,
was easily confounded with lire (lere) = Ags. /iWor, meaning cheek, face.
Cp. also Amours' note to the above passage from * Golagros and -Gawane.'
3940. Vnto Ihesu cryste Aske I A hoone. By analogy to the expression
" make a boon." Cp. ' Sir Eglamour of Artois,' 1. 101 : To Jhesti Cryste he
made a hoone.
135
EDITIONS OF MIDDLE ENGLISH TEXTS
REFEERED TO IN THE NOTES.
AUenglische Dlchtungen des MS. Had. 2253, berauagegeben von K. Bbd-
deker, Berlin, 1878.
AltengliBclie Legenden, Neue Folge, lieraiiagegebeo von Carl Horstmann.
HeilbroQu and LeipBic, 1878^1,
Amis and AmilouQ, berausgegebeii von E, Kolbtng. Hetlbronn, 1884
(* Altengliache Bibliotliek ').
Artboar and Merbn, beraiisgegeben von E. Kolbing. Leipsic, 1890
(* Altenglfsche Bibliotbek ')»
Atbelstcmj lierausgegeben von J. Zupitza, * Engliscbe Studien,' vol. xiii.
Awntyra of Arthure at the Tarnewathelan, in 'Scottisb Alliterative
Poems/ ed. F. J. Amours (Scottish Text Societv). Edinburgbj 1897.
Babees Book, ed. F, J. Furnivail. London, 1868(E.KT,S.)-
Beues of Hamtoun (The Romance of Sir), ed. E. Kolbing. London,
188i>-94(E.E.T.S.),
Blancbardyn and Eglantine (Caxton^s), ed. L. Kellner. London, 1890
k(E. E, T. a).
Booe Florence of Rome (Le), herauRgegeben von Wilholm Vietor, 1893.
Bruce (Tbe), by John Barbour, ed. W, W, Skeat. London, 1870 et mu
(E, E. T. S,).
Cleaunese, ed. Richard Morris, in * Early Engliab Alliterative Poems,'
London, 1864 (E. E. T. S.).
Confeasio A mantis. Complete Works of John Gower, ed* G. C. Macaulay.
Oxford, 1899 ei seg., vola. ii, and iii.
Coventry Plays (published under the name of Ludus CoventriaeJ, ed, J. 0.
Halliwell. London, 1841, Shakespeare Society.
Cursor Miindi, ed. Richard MorrtB. LoiKionj 1874 ei mq. (E. E. T, 8.).
---Death ^nd LylFe, in Biabop Percys Folio MS., ed. J. W, Males and F. J,
Furnivulh London, 1868, vol. iii.
Degree (Sir), in Percy's Folio MS., ed Hales? and Furnivail, vol. iiL
Destruction of Troy, ed, Panton and Donaldsori, London, 1869
(E.E.T.S.).,
Eger and Grine, in Percy's Folio MS., ed. Hales and Furnivail, vol. i.
Egkmour of Artois (Sir), in ' Tlie Thornton Romances,' ed. J. 0. Halliwell
for the Camden Society. London^ 1844.
Emare, edited by A. B.Gougli, London, 1901 (Morabacli and Holthatisen'a
* Old and Middle English Texts *).
Erl of ToulouBj herausgegeben von G. Liidtke. Berlin, 1881.
Ferumbras (Sir), ed. S. j; Herrtage. London, 1879 (E. E, T. S.).
Floria und Bhmnchefliir, berausgegeben von E. HauBknetht. Berlin, 1885.
Foiire Sonnea of Aymon, ed. 0. Richardson. London, 1885 (E. E. T, S.),
Gawayne and the Green Knight (Sir)^ ed, Richard Morris. London, 1864
(kE.T.S.).
Gawene and the Carle of Ciirelyle (Sir), in * Syr Gawayne,' ed* Sir F.
Madden, 1839 (Bannatyne Club).
Generydes, ed. W. A. Wright. London, 1879 (E. E. T. S.).
Golagroa and Gawane, in * Scottish Alliterative Poems,* ed. F. J. Amours
(Scottish Text Society). Edinburgh, 1897.
136 Editions of Middle English Texts.
Gowther (Sir), herausgegeben von K. Breul. Oppeln, 1886.
Guy of Warwick (The Romance of), ed. J. Zupitza. London, 1875-76
/■p IT T S ^
Handlyng Synne, Part I., ed. F. J. Furnivall. London, 1903 (E. E. T. S.).
Havelok (The Lay of), ed. W. W. Skeat Oxford, 1902.
Holy Grail, by H. Louelich, ed. P. J. Furnivall. London, 1874-78
(E.E.T.&).
Horn Childe, ea. J. Hall as Appendix to his edition of King Horn. Ox-
, ford, 1901.
Ipomedon, herausgegeben von E. Kolbing. Breslau, 1889.
King of Tars, herausgegeben von P. Krause, * Englische Studien/ vol. xi.
Kyng Alisaunder in * Metrical Romances/ ed. H. Weber, 1810, vol. i.
Lambewell (Sir), in Percy's Folio MS., vol. i.
Lay le Fraine, herausgegeben von H. Vamhagen. Anglia, vol. iii.
La^amon's Brut, ed. Sir F. Madden. London, 1847.
Libeaus Desconus, herausgegeben von M. Ealuza. Leipsic, 1890 (' Alteng-
lische Bibliothek ').
Merline, in Percy's Folio MS., vol. i.
Morte Arthure (Lincoln MS.), ed. M. M. Banks. London, 1900.
Morte Darthur, by Sir Thomas Malory, ed. H. 0. Sommer. London,
1889-91.
Octavian, herausgegeben von G. Sarrazin. Heilbronn, 1885 ('Altenglische
Bibliothek ').
Patience, ed. Richard Morris in 'Early English Alliterative Poems.'
London, 1864 (E.E.T.S.).
Pearl, ed. L Gollancz. London, 1891.
Perceval of Galles (Sir), in 'The Thornton Romances,' ed. J. 0. Halliwell.
London, 1844.
Piers Plowman (The Vision of William concerning), ed. W. W. Skeat.
Oxford, 1886.
Rauf CoiJ3ear (Taill of), herausgegeben von M. Tonndorf, 1894.
Richard Coer de Lion, in * Metrical Romances,' ed. H. Weber. Edin-
burgh, 1810, vol. ii.
Roberd of Cisyle, herausgegeben von R. Nuck. Berlin, 1887.
Romans of Partenay, ed. W. W. Skeat. London, 1866 (E. E. T. S.).
Romaunt of the Rose, in * Tlie Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer,' ed.
W. W. Skeat. Oxford, 1894-97, vol. i.
Rowlande and Ottuell (Romance of Duke), ed. S. J. Herrtage. London,
1880(E.E.T.S.).
Seege of Troye, ed. C. H. A. Wager. Boston, 1899.
Sege of Melayne, ed. S. J. Herrtage. London, 1880 (E. E. T. S.).
-- Seuyn Sages, in ' Metrical Romances,' ed. H. Weber, vol. iii.
Sowdone of Babylone, ed. E. Hausknecht. London, 1881 (E. E. T.S.).
Squyr of Lowe Degree, in * Remains of the Early Popular Poetry of Eng-
land,' ed. W. C. Hazlitt. London, 1866, vol. ii.
Torrent of Portyngale, ed. E. Adam. London, 1887 (E. E. T. S.).
Towneley Plays, ed. G. England. London, 1897 (E. E. T. S).
— Triamore (Sir), in Percy's Folio MS., vol. ii.
Tristrem (Sir), herausgegeben von E. Kolbing. Heilbronn, 1882.
Wars of Alexander, ed. W. W. Skeat. London, 1886 (E. E. T. S.).
William of Palerne, ed. W. W. Skeat. London, 1867 (E. E. T. S.).
York Plays, ed. L. T. Smith. Oxford, 1885.
Ysumbras (Sir), herausgegeben von J. Zupitza und G. 5chleich, Berlin,
1901 (Palaestra, xv).
Twain and Gawain, herausgegeben von G. Schleich, Oppeln and Leipsic,
1887.
137
GLOSSARY.
A, adj. all, 2462.
A, conj. and, 2844.
A, conj. if, 2832.
Abbyte, s, habit, robe, 3793.,
Abydb, tj. wait for, 162.
Abye, subj. 2 8, pay for, suffer for,
1387 ; jwe*. 3 s. abought, 2523.
AcORDEMENT, 8, agreement, compo-
sition of differences, 1639.
AcouNTRBS, «. pi, encounters^ 1589.
Adyght, p.p, prepared, 1545.
A-FROUGHTE, j?.|?. afraid, 2295, 2413.
Agayne, iwep. towards, to meet,
709 ; opposite to, before, 2648.
Agiltb, p.p. sinned against, wrong-
ed, 915, 1322 ; pret 3 s. agulte,
1154.
Alblasters, 8.j}l. cross-bows, 2729.
All-myght, ac^. almighty, 675.
Also, adv. as, 1576.
And, conj. if, 161, 239, 1706, 2846,
3945.
Antoore, 1829. See Aunt(e)re.
Aparaylmente, 8. dress, apparel,
2055. ^^
Appar(r)ayle, 8. furnishings, 969;
accomplishments in arms, 1748.
Are, adv. before, 291, 977.
Armytes, 8. gen. hermit's, 3950.
As, conj. as if, 220.
A^CRYE, v: call upon, 2126.
Assent(e), 8. opinion (in common
with others), 1722, 1937, 2604.
As-tyte, adv. quickly, 488, 3713.
AUAUNTEMENT, 8. boast, 1617.
Aught, pret. 1 «. owned, possessed,
653.
Aunt(e)re, 8. adventure, fortune,
33,362, 1903;pl. auntres,719,983.
Auntur(e)s, 8. pi. 3, 6, 11, 19, 1906.
See Aunt(e)re.
Awaytes, pi'e8. 3 «. watches, 64.
AwiSE, imperat. 2 8. (reflexive),
bethink oneself, reflect, 2568.
Aythur, indef. pron. either, each,
3278.
Bale, s. sorrow, 628, 1074.
Bare, s. boar, 229, 951.
Batayles, 8. pi. battalions, divi-
sions, 3306.
Bayne, adj, straight, ready, obedi-
ent, 991, 1134, 3217, 3315.
3e, conj. by the time that, when,
1861, 1957.
Be(e), s. ring, 3179, 3419.
Be-cryed, p.p, accused, 2774.
Bede, v. offer, 849, 1462, 3356;
proclaim, 32, 41, 348 ; pre8. 1 pi.
3274.
Bedene, Bydene, adv. together, 24,
70, 546, 723, 1513, 1663, 1760,
2278; well, completely, 1684,
1728.
Beghe, 8. ring, 2625. See Be(e).
Begredde, pret. 3 pi. accused, 1812.
Beld, 8. comfort, 3407.
Beleue, Beleve, v. remain, 759,
3963 ; leave, 558 ; pret. 3 s. be-
lefte, by-lefte, 60, 1765.
Bemys, 8. pi. trumpets, 2707.
Bene, v. be, 1503.
Bente, 8. field (of battle), 3359,
3374.
Bente, p.p. stretched, 990.
Bere, 8. bray, sound, 2127,
Bere, pret. 3 s. bore, 638.
Besaunt(e), 8. a gold coin of By-
zantian origin, 3179, 3419 ; pi.
Besavntis, 3542.
Besettb, Bysette, p.p. employed,
applied, 1412, 1568.
Bethe, pres. 3 8. {in future «enae),
will be, 1727; pre8. 3 pi. are,
1825; imper.2pl. be, 1881.
Bette, pret. 3 pi. beat, 13.
Blanne. SeeBLYNNE.
Ble(e), 8. complexion, countenance,
739, 3504, 3779, 3876.
Bloc, adj. blue, 151.
Blyndis, pres. 3 8. becomes blind,
311.
Blynne, v. decline, ^cease, stop, 37,
138
Glossary.
1691, 1824, 2999, 3039, 3727;
pret. 3 s. BLANNE, 3364.
Blyvk, adv, quickly, 3706.
BoDDYN, p.p. prayed, 2803.
Bode, s. message, report, 3468.
BoDE-woBDE, s. promise, 3274.
BoGHT, p.p. paid for, redeemed, re-
quited, 470, 3009, 3483, 3718.
Bold, adj. sure, 3009, 3483.
BoLDE, adv. surely (?), 3688.
Bone, s. limb, 117.
Bo(o)ne, «. prayer, request, 2803,
3787, 3940.
BoRD, ». table, 859.
Bote, s. remedy, help, amends, 3303,
3407, 3486, 3840.
BoTHls, adj. gen. both, 176.
Bought. See Boght.
BouNTE, «. valour, knightly quali-
ties, 126, 1739.
BowNE, adj. ready, prepared, 941,
2151, 2525, 2882, 3427, 3803.
BowNE, V. make ready, 3257.
Bba8t(e), v. break, burst, 3492 ;
pret. 3 «. 188, 1343, 2178, 3077,
3135, 3774.
Brated, prtt. 3 8. drew suddenly,
3344.
Braundisshid, prcf. 3 s. flourished
about, moved vigorously, 117.
Breme, adj. fierce, 229, 951, 1600,
2214, 2606, 3249.
Brenne, v. bum, 2507 ; pret 3 pL,
Brexte, 2537; p.p. Brent(e),
943, 1319, 1939, 3697.
Brbre, «. briar, wild rose, 179, 724,
835.
Browgh^ a. town, 2707.
B(jsk(e), 17. get ready, hasten, betake
oneself 349, 2505, 3427 ; pres. 3 «.
BUSKES, -IS, 547, 2525, 2715 ; pret
3, BUSKED, -yd, 699, 2151, 2882,
3579, 3803 ; p.p. buskyd, 1808.
BusKYD. See Busk(e).
By, «. be, 34, 876; pres. sxibj. 3 s. 1759.
By-calle, v. accuse, impeach, 1553.
By-dene. See Bedene.
Bydyng, «. bidding, 1134.
Bygqyd, |).j). built, 3619.
Byggyng, 8. building, dwelling, 3767.
By-heste, s. offer, 3296.
By-know, v. confess, 916.
By-lefte. See Beleue.
By-mene, v. mean, 856.
Byrd, 8. bride, lady, 2989, 3632.
By-sette. See Be-sette.
By-spake, pret 3 s. spoke to, 2404.
By-take, r. deliver, hand over to,
2283;2)re«. 3^)^.2346.
Caste, pret 3 «. looked, 3776.
Chase. See Chese.
Chere, s. countenance, manner, 477,
540, 781.
Chese, v. choose, 2973; pret, 3,
chese, 419, 514, 2355, 2522, 3290 ;
pret 3, chase, 2957, 3561.
Clepis, pres. 3 s, calls, summons,
106, 387, 2540; jpre*. 3 s. clepid,
Clepyd, 1444, 2668, 3606, 3868.
Clongyn, p.p. withered, shrunk up,
761.
Clouohis, 8. gen, ravines, 893.
Clyppe, v. embrace, 3927 ; pres. 3 s.
CLYPPis, 1547 ; pret 3 s, clypped,
1801.
CoLDE, V. grow cold, 3647.
CoLOURE, s. hue, countenance, 2816.
CoMSEMENT, «. Commencement, 1726.
CoRAGE, s. heart, 3777.
CoRDEMENT, 8. agreement, reconeili-
ation, 2422, 2426.
CoRSSE, 2880. See Crosse.
CoRTESSLY, adv. courteously, 2283.
CouDE, CovDE, CowDE, pret. 3 s.
knew, 3617, 3809; had know-
ledge, was skilled, 2750, 2892.
CouTH(E),|>re*. could, knew, 104,223,
1446, 1676 ; p.p. known, 2248.
Cover, v. recover, heal, 3733 ; pret^
3 8. couERYD, 2856, 3134, 3736.
Crye, 8. company (of contestants at
a tournament), 44.
Crye, v. proclaim, 342.
Craftely, adv. skilfully, 390.
Dale, v. deal, 1076 ; pret. 3 pi. dal-
TYN, 2897; p.p. DALTE, tinished,
3259.
Dare, v. crouch in fear, be afraid,
2575.
Dede, 8. death, 911.
Dede, s. capacity, 493.
Deffend, r. exclude, 3049.
Departe, v. part, 1805, 3704 ; subj.
3 8. divide, 3704 ; p.p. departed,
come to an end, 743.
Dere, 8. harm, 3701
Dkre, v. harm, 2896.
Dkrfe, adj. terrible, 2607.
Glossary.
139
Desse, «. dais, 2269.
Devoyede, imp&fai, 2 «. get out of,
1167,
Deynqe, «. dying, 1047.
DiGHT u (twirans.)* fi^et ready (espe-
cially of arming), 167, 1874; dress,
326 ; attend to, 717 ; imperat, 1
pi. 2134, 2 «. 2450 ; p.p. got ready,
prepared, 142, 466, 673, 876, 1884,
1896; put, 847; disposed of, 1909 ;
conditioned, 2000.
Do, V. cause to, 1003 ; pret. 3 s. did,
DYD, 341, 1121, 2602; p.p. DONE,
370,2328; imperat. 2 pi. dothe,
put, 3883.
Doel(l)e, s. sorrow, 682, 873.
DOLWYN, p.p. buried, 3604.
Dome, «. command, 2260 ; pi. domys,
2482.
Done, injm. 1122. See Do.
DoRE, 17. endure, 238.
Drake, s. dragon, 2607.
Dbayne, ».j). drawn, 869, 1997, 2164,
3014, 3325.
Drechyd, p.p. disturbed, troubled,
1869.
Dreqhe, adj. great, 2621.
Droupe, v. sink down (from fear),
2576.
Dryhe, in On Dryhe, aside, apart,
2826.
DuELLE, DwELLE, 8. sorrow, mourn-
ing, 2244, 2468 ; pity, 1742, 1971,
2126.
Dul(e)fullt, adv. pitiably, 1406,
DuoGHTY, adj. doughty, 24.
DwELLE, V. stay, stop, 1769, 1790,
1793; mbj.pl. 1776.
DwELLE, 8. See Duelle.
DwELLYNGE, 8. staying, 80.
Dyght. See Dight.
Dynt(e), 8. blow, 484, 603, 2173,
2763,2812; pi. dyntis, 1076, 2801.
Dyskere, v. disclose, 1736.
Edder, 8. adder, 3341.
Ellis, ad/v. else, 943.
Eme, 8. uncle, 1681; gen. eme-is,
2960.
Endris, adj. other, 1017.
Entayle, 8. fashion, quality, charac-
ter, 976, 2300; good form, 3273.
Entente, 8. assiduous effort, endea-
vour, 3691.
Enterdite, 17. lay under an inter-
dict, 2263; p.p. enterdyt, entyr-
dyted, 2268, 2284.
EuYN, adv. straight, 3616.
-EuYN, 8. evening, 2236.
Eyne, 8. pi. eyes, 3266, 3436.
Fallys, pres. 3 8. befits, 1119 ; pret.
3 8. fell, was suitable, 1122.
Fantyse, 8. vain thing, 2647.
Fare, 8. matter, business, 945.
Fare, v. go, journey, 166, 222, 249,
688.
Fasowne, 8. fashion, kind, 2631.
Faste, 17. make fast, confirm, 3324.
Fayne, adj. happy, 3200; eager,
3799.
Fee, 8. possessions, 2719.
Fele, adj. many, 6, 2019, 2032, 2157.
Felly, adv. fiercely, cruelly, 3391.
Fer, adi7. far, 2400.
Fere, adj. sound, in good condition,
411, 662.
Fere, s. company, 2222, 3402, 3702,
39()0; pi. ferys, companions,
3830.
Ferly, adv. wonderfully, 6, 3176.
Ferre, adv. far, 2982, 3019, 3167.
Fette, p.p. fetched, taken, 1067.
Feyght, 8. fight, 1489.
Feyght(e), 17. fight, 1318, 1397,
1436.
Fewtred, pret. 3 pi. put into
"fewter," the felt-lined rest for the
spear attached to the saddle, 3367.
Fleme, 17. reject, 2673; pret. 3 «.
FLEMYD, banished, 3660; p.p.
FLEMYD, banished, 3766.
FoLDE, 8. ground, 3549.
FoLDE, V. bend, 99 ; yield, 2547 ;
clasp, 3771.
FoLE, 8. fool, 2672.
FoLYD, p.p. foolish, 402.
FoNDE, »re*. 3 pi. advanced, 3337.
See Found.
FoNE, adj. few, 2378.
FoNE, pret. 3 8. took, 1796.
FoNE, 8. pi. foes, 3211.
FoNGE, 17. receive, 3503.
FoRBARE, pret. 1 8. spared, 2836.
FoRBARE, p.p. miscreated creature ?
3741.
FoRBEDE, Spre8. 8ubj. forbid, 3681.
FoRBLED, p.p. weakened by loss of
blood, 3434.
140
Glossary.
FORBRENDE, FORBRENT, p.p. put tO
death by burning, 1666, 1926.
FORLORNE, p.p, lost, 3209.
FoRNE, prep, for, 3211.
FoRSETTE, pret. 3 8, set round with
a guard, 3046.
FoR-THY, can), therefore, 104, 1088,
1141, 2394, 2408 ; because, 1878.
FoR-THTNKE, V, rue, repent, 2737;
pres, 3 B. FOR-THYNKETH, 3849.
For(e)ward, s. offer, agreement,
3302 ; pL. forwardys, 2673, 3270,
3324.
FoR-WERY, ad), very weary, tired
out, 2901.
FoR-woNDRED, p.p. full of wonder,
2730.
FoR-WHY (that), c(yiij. wherefore,
33, 2617 ; because, 97 ; on condi-
tion that, 389.
FoRYELDE, 3pre«. fvbj. reward, 1548.
Fo(u)nde, Fownd(e), v. thrust,
2159 ; advance (trans.) 2551 ;
advance {irUrans.) 2553 ; go,
3513 ; strive, 3229 ; imperat. 2 pi.
FOUNDIS, 2551.
Fre(e), adj. noble, open, generous,
75, 90, 242, 408, 454, 1009, 3643.
Frele, ad), frail, 2300.
Frely, ad), noble, 2939, 3121, 3329.
Frely, adv. very, 3772.
Freste, adv. first, 1151.
Freyned, wret. 3 s. asked, 678.
Friste, adj. first, 149 ; adv. 736.
Fro, prep, from, 633, 1979, 1987.
Fyfty, adj, fiftieth, 3895. Probably
a mistake for Fyfte.
Gab, v. tell lies, 1147, 1156; pret.
1 8. QABBYD, 1105, 1132, 1138.
Game, s. delight, mirth, 96, 430, 611 ;
pi. GAMYS, 3227.
Gatys, 8. gen. thus gatys = in this
way, 1712.
Gayne, adj. straight, 1904.
Gere, s. gear, things, 3736.
Geste, 8. guest, 453.
GiLTE, p.p. wronged, 1377.
Glad,v. be glad, 3227.
Gledde, p.p. clothed, dressed, 3172.
Glede, 8. a live coal, fire, 780, 2742,
2793.
GLENTE,^e<. 3 8. glinted forth, 3493.
Glewe, 8. jokes, 1164.
Gleyves, 8. pi. spears, 3078, 3096.
Glode, piet. 3 8. glided, 3341.
GoN(NE),pre*. 3, began, 1390 ; did,
99, 139, 1031; p.p, done, 1780.
Goode, adj. pi. good, brave men,
2157.
Go(u)nfanodne, Gonfanownb, 8.
small flag or pennon attached to
the lance just below the steel
head, 2104, 2153, 2464, 2886,
3096.
Grande, pres. 1 8. grant, 2318.
Graythes, pre8. 3 pi. get ready,
2530 ; pret, 3 a. graythid, 2739.
Gre(e), 8. prize, preeminence, 48,
2409.
Gredde, pret. 3 s. drew, 1838.
Grede, v. cry, 791, 1390 ; pres. 2 s.
GREDYS, accusest, 1572.
Gretb, adj. great, 682.
Gynne, 8, device, stratagem, 3037.
3ARE, adj. ready, 2505, 2608; «.
Yare.
3EME, V. take care of, 2512.
Hald, 1?. hold, consider, 2336, 2497;
pres, 3|>i. 2925 ; pres, 3 s, haldys,
89
Hale, s. hall, 1078.
Hailsed, pret. 3 s, saluted, 2632.
Han, Hanne, pres. 3 oZ. have, 2417,
3209.
Heldb, t?. incline, 184; yield, 261,
2141.
Hele, 8. salvation, 3655.
Hele, v. conceal, 143,-466, 1678,
2967, 3840.
HEM,^eraon. jpron» them., 1464, 2123.
Hend(e), adj. gentle, courteous, 110,
330, 541, 623, 1529, 2469, 3764.
Hende, adv. near, at hand, 332.
Hendely, adv. courteously, grace-
fully, with good manners, 600,
1613, 2638, 2710, 3922.
Hente, pret. 3 s. seized, laid hold
of, took, 1037, 2853, 3491, 3934 ;
p.p. KENT, 3023.
Herse, 8. a frame designed to carry
the candles lighted in honour of
the dead, 3532.
Hest(e), 8. promise, vow, 2660,
2688, 2697, 3686.
Hette, p.p. promised, 2697.
Hight(e), Hyght(e), pres. 3 s. is
called, 3960 ; pret. 3 s. was called.
Glosmry.
141
93, 883, 1474 ; 'p.'p, called, 2487 ;
promised, 1447, 3252.
Holly, ad'o, entirely, wholly, 935,
945, 2980.
HoLTYS, a. ^l, groves, 3029.
HoLYCHE, ad'o, wholly, 3826.
Hope, jwe«. 1 «. think, 490, 1491,
2737,3543 ; 'preL 3 s. hopyd, 2491,
3620.
HoRE, adj. grey (from lichen, per-
haps), ancient, 314, 3029.
HoRSYD, 'pret. 3 5. mounted, 87.
Houyd, Hovid, 'j^et, lingered, 259,
2622.
Hye, a. haste, 2830.
Hye, imperat 2 s, haste, 3452.
Hyght, s. Hight.
B^YTTE, pers, pron. it, 3711, 3834.
I-bente, p.p. adorned, 1035.
IcHE, indef. pron. each, 1685, 2109,
2367, 2504, 3761.
IcHONE, indef. pron. every one, 627,
2036, 2369.
I-DiGHTE, p.p. got ready, 610.
Ilke, Ylke, ady. same, 1765, 1886,
1907, 2092, 2166.
I-MANASED, p.p. menaced, 479.
I-MARYD, pret. 3 s. marred, 3360.
Inche8(8)oun, s. occasion, 56, 1030.
I-RADE, p.p. read, 2651.
I-wouNDYD, p.p. wounded, 934.
I-WYSSE, adv, surely, 3633, 3635,
3923.
Kene, a4;. bold, 803, 955, 1921,
1969, 3248.
Kenne, V. know, recognize, 175 ;
p.p. kene, 1097.
Kepeth, pres. 3 s. pays attention to,
3027 ; pret. 3 s. kepit, 102.
Kest(eJ, pret 3 s. uttered, 3510;
p.p. fixed, 455.
KiTHE, 533. See Kythe.
Klepis, pres, 3 s. calls, summons,
816; pret. 3 s. klepitte, 191,
KLEPYD, 536.
Knowlache, pi'es. 1 s. acknowledge,
3638.
Kynnes, s. gen, kind of, 3037.
Kythb, v. make known, display,
declare, 1441, 1611, 1774, 2481,
2744, 3598 ; proclaim, 1785 ; pret.
3 8. kyd(de), 2751, 2892.
Lad(e), pret. 3 s. led, 712, 723 ; p.p.
1506.
Layne, s. concealment, 602, 1964,
3204.
Layne, v. conceal, 989, 1026, 1108,
2650, 3591.
Layne, piet. 3 pi. lay, 2763.
Leche, s. leech, physician, 368,
380, 387 ; pi. lechis, 325, 331,
Lechyng, 8. medical treatment, 3507.
LEDE,a.man,3163; land, 653, 2659.
Lede, v. live ? 3948.
Lees, Les(b), 8. falsehood, 276, 423,
992, 1719, 2255,2353,2959,3565.
Leff, adj. dear, 1.
Leffe, v. live, 2499.
Lefte, pret. 3 s. remained, 53 ; s,
LEUE.
Lelyest, adv. most loyally, 1066.
Leme (miswritten for leuyn), s.
light, 3586.
Lem(m)an, 8. lover (male or female),
586, 605, 637, 1086, 1137, 1179.
LEMYD,pre*. shone, 1471,3308, 3586.
Lemyn (miswritten probably for
leuyn), s. bright flame, lightning,
3308.
Lend(e), v. stay, tarry, 565, 617,
1007, 3276, 3768 ; pre8. 1 pi. 2590 ;
pret 3 8. LENTE, 988 ; p.p. lente,
1353, 1945, 2277, 2727.
Lende, v. land, 2473.
Lene, v. lend, grant, 1464.
Lenge, v. stay, dwell, 3276, 3556.
Lenqer, adv. longer, 40, 162, 381,
565, 1484, 3802.
Lente, v. lend, 3693.
Lere, 8. learning, 521.
Lere, a. cheek, countenance, 3624;
for the pi., 3832, cp. note.
Lere, v. learn, 641.
Lese. See Lees.
Lese, 8ubj. 3 pres. lose, 3415.
Lesyng(e), 8. falsehood, lying, 1004,
1043, 1098, 2728, 3550.
Let(te), Lett, pret. 3 «. caused (to
be made), 41, 2978, 2985, 3028.
Lette, v. cease (intrans.), 201,665;
hinder, prevent, 205, 2441.
Leue, Leve, adj. dear, 3204, 3412,
3495.
Leue, v. stay, 3203.
Leue, imperat. 2 s. permit, 3556.
Leuyd, pret 3 s. left, 2824; p.p.
2820, 3744.
142
Glossary.
Lbvande, prtB. part, living, 2840.
Lewd, jo.p. lived, 3601.
Leyre, $. countenance, 475. See
Lere,
LiQGYS, prts. 3 B. lies, 1730.
Light, p.p. settled, 581.
LoGOEN, prts. 3 pi, lodge, arrange,
1901.
LoKYD, pp, enclosed, lodged, 2620.
Lone, b, concealment, 1124.
Lore, «. learning, doctrine, 3966.
LoRRME, B, bridle-reins, 1471.
LoRNE, p.p, lost, 3551.
LouGHE, adj. flaming, full, 1594.
LouGHE, pret. laughed, 496, 1536,
1636.
LovDE, adj. loud, 910.
Lykynge, b. love, 3702.
Lythe, v. listen to, hear, 676, 1479,
1582, 1643, 1772, 1787, 1942.
Lyvand, 949. See Levande.
Make, s. match, 1062 ; mate, spouse,
3668.
May(e), s. maiden, 196, 1107.
Mayne, s. strength, 3797.
Mekelle, Mekylle, adj. great,
1424, 1528, 3816. See Mykelle.
Mene, v. complain, mourn, 727,
3861.
Mene, v. discourse, tell, indicate,
22, 1686; remember, 3729; pres.
1 s. 2420, 3959 ; pret. 3 s. 3932 ;
p.p. 3695.
Merely, adv. merrily, cheerfully,
3856.
Mese, 8. course, 1512.
Meyne, s. company, 2039.
Mo, adv. more, 198, 648.
MocHK, Myche, adj. great, 1960,
2219, 2850, 2923, 3082; adv.
much, 96.
MocHELLE, adj. great, 1496.
Mode, b. mind, 3679.
Mold(e), s. earth, ground, 707,
3300, 3459, 3684; pi. moldys,
3545.
^loN, pres. 1 s. must, shall, 3230.
Morrow, «. morning, 3366, 3810.
MosTE, adj. greatest, 3212.
MoTTE, pres. 1 s. am permitted to,
3207.
Mow(e), pres. 1 pi. may, 1114, 1140.
Myche. See Moche.
Mychelle, Mykelle, Mykylle, adj.
great, 1560, 1642, 1690, 1749,
3313; adv. much, 1675, 1708,
1783,2042. See Mekelle, MocH-
ELLE.
Myngyd, wet. 3 «. disturbed, con-
fused, 3933.
Mynne, v. remind, 169.
MYS8E, B. sin, 3677.
Nade, pret. 1 s. had not, 1410.
Ne, adv. not, 76, 98, 566.
Nedelyngis, adv. necessarily, 753.
Nere, pret. ayhj. 3 «. were not, 411.
Neuyn(e), Nevyn, Newyn, t. name,
tell, 2582, 3304, 3584, 3823, 3881 ;
pres. 1 B. 3409, 3965.
No, adv. not, 37.
Nold(e), pre*, would not, 633, 701,
1455, 2825, 3786.
Nome, pre*. 3 «. took, 2258, 2374.
None, adj. no, 89.
Note, pres. 1 «. know not, 3426.
Nye(e), v. draw nigii to, 2832, 3183.
Nylle, pres. 3 s. will not, 823, 2077,
3039 ; pres. 1 pi 1457.
NYSE, adj. foolish, 3010.
Nyste, pret. knew not, 616, 856.
0, numerals one, 1593, 1602.
Obbyte, b. habit, dress, 3763.
Of, adv. off, 1850.
Of-shere, v. cut off, 213.
One, adv. alone, 315.
Onys, adv. once, 2699.
Ore, b. mercy, 1344, 3484.
Or(e), adv. before, 1740, 2202, 3717;
conj. 1535, 1917, 2856, 3134, 3953 ;
pr^. 526, 3375.
OsTE, B. host, 2043, 2102 ; pi. ostes,
2154, 2211, 2619.
Ouereste, adv. uppermost, 846.
OuTHER, indef. pron. either, 2013.
Palle, 8. a costly cloth, 2712.
Paraylle, s. apparel, 2614.
Pight, Pyghte, p.p. pitched, 2623,
2644.
Play(e), 8. sport, amusement, 398,
779, 1019.
Play(e), v. amuse oneself, 445, 517,
730, 815, 890.
PoMELLES, s. pi. apple-shaped orna-
ments on top of tent-poles, 2625.
Praste, 3326. See Preste.
Prees, Pres, Pres(s)e, s. press, 518 ;
Glossary,
143
throng, company, 417, 1713, 1859,
1965, 2351.
Pbesons, pres, 2 s. imprisonest,
1853.
Preste, adj, ready, eager, 2716,
3151, 3827.
Previte, «. private affairs, secret
counsels, 657.
Prewely, adv. privately, 1767.
Pryde, a. splendour, 630, 1940.
Pryse, adj. prize, choice, 1111.
QuERE, «. choir, 3138, 3902, 3910.
Que8t(e), «. judicial inquiry, 919,
925, 1320.
Quite, adj, free, 490.
QuYTES, pres. 3 s, requites, repays,
2292.
Eadde. See Bede.
Randowne, 8. onrush, pace, 2750,
2888.
Rap(p)e, v. hasten, 2664 ; pres. subj,
2 pi. 3613.
Rauqht, pret 3 s. started, 3191.
liAYED^pretSs. arrayed, 2720, 3306.
Eayke, v. charge, rush, 3373.
Rayled, p.p, adorned, 3531.
Rayne, s, kingdom, 1980, 3223.
Reas(s)e, Res(s)e, s. rush, attack,
1861, 1957, 2690, 2905, 3258;
expedition, pilgrimage, 2664.
Rede, s. counsel, advice, 907, 1113.
Rede, pres. 1 «. counsel, say, direct,
168, 232, 233, 855, 978, 2839,
3427 ; pies. mhj. 3 s. 1745 ; pret
2 s. RADDE, 3430; rule, 1416, 2311
(infin,) ; read, 2956 {pres. 1 s.).
Releve, imperat. 2 pi. recover,
3112.
Reme, s. realm, kingdom, 2512,3666.
Renne, v. run, 3947.
Resoous, pres. 3 s. rescues, 2227.
Re(s)seyve, v. receive, 3688, 3708 ;
pret 3 s. resseyuyd, resseyved,
3788, 3862 ; pret 3 pi, reseyved,
572.
RiGGE, 8. back, 2178.
Right, adj. and adv. straight, 161,
620,
Rode, s. rood, cross, 3851, 3882.
Rode, s. redness, rosy colour, 179 ;
pi. RODDYS, 3956.
RoPFE, Rove, pret rived, split,
2909,3372.
Romans, s, romance, 2363.
Rod, s. quiet, rest, 3614.
RouGHT, pret. 3 s. recked, 3522.
RowND, adj. favourable, 3805.
RowNE, 8. speech, 3510.
RowNE, V. speak, 3423.
Ryche, adj. mighty (one), 2905,
3373.
Ryffe, adj. rife, 1825.
Ryghtwosse, adj. righteous, 3740.
Sad(d)e, adj. tired, 461, 716.
Salowes, Salues, pres. 3 «. salutes,
68, 735, 737, 2376.
Samen, adv. together, 2154, 2392.
Samyte, 8. samite, a rich silk stuff,
2358.
Sangrayle, 8. Holy Grail, 10.
Sanzfayle, adv. surely, indeed, 971.
Sare, adv. sorely, 16^ 272.
Saumbues, 8. pL housings, 2360. .
Sawes, 8. pi. speeches, sayings,
1151, 3251.
Sayne, v. say, 3319 ; p.p. said, de-
clared, 2872.
Scauberke, 8. scabbard, 3471, 3474.
ScRYVED, pret 3 pi. burst, 382 ; p.p.
407.
Se(e), Sey, pret saw, 741, 1476,
3181, 3417, 3624.
Seche, v. seek, 437,3021, 3799.
See, s, seat, 2693.
Seke, adj, sick, 54, 158, 173, 625,
664, 2165.
Sekereste, adj. most trustworthy,
2518.
SEKERYD,|M-e^. 3 pi. Confirmed, 2331.
Sekerynge, 8. assurance, guarantee,
2322.
Sely, adv. very, 3387, 3835.
Semblant, 8. appearance, 659.
Semely, adj. beautiful (one), 639.
Sengle, adv. uniquely, 1796.
Sente, 8, opinion, consent, 2278.
Sethe, co^j. since, 2903. See SiTHE.
Sey. See Se(e).
Shende, 8. shame, 1664.
Shende,Shent(e), p.».put to shame,
disgraced, 1321, 2273, 2913,3230;
lost, 1724.
Skene, adj, bright, beautiful, 51, 68,
1515, 1657, 1800; 2384, 2612, 3338.
Sbo, pers. pron. she, 1426.
Shore,^.|>. taken, 84.
Shoure, 8. attack, 3000.
144
Glossary.
Shreddb, V, cut, 2563.
Shynand, pres, part, shining, 973.
SiGHE, pret saw, 706, 998.
SiTBE, Sythe, adv, afterwards, 398,
451, 546, 1336, 3792.
SiTHB, canj, since, 126, 209, 234,
557, 745, 75a
SiTHEN, adv. afterwards, then, 614.
SiTTE, 8. anhappiness, 497; pi.
8YTTE8, calamities, 870.
Slab, Sle, v. slay, 843, 2115, 2507,
2579, 2601.
Slbb, ac{;. sly, cunning, 3421.
Slo(o), v. strike, slay, 1411, 1527,
1841,2100,2188,2825. See Slab.
Snelle, acfj, quick, active, 884, 2234 ;
adv. quickly, 790.
SoKERYNGE, «. comforting, 3674.
So(n)ND, 8. message, that which is
sent, 3562, 3675.
SoNE, adv. soon, 930, 963.
Soth(e), 8. truth, 60, 93, 226, 396,
771, 3798.
Sought, pret. pi. went, journeyed,
2952; p.p. pierced, 870, 2873.
Sound. See So(u)nd.
SowNE, 8. speech, utterance, 3514.
Spelle, v. talk, 3024, 3722.
Speryd, pret. 3 a. shut, 2997.
Spille, V become empty, 23.
Sprent(e), pret. sprang, 1846, 1892,
1949, ly54, 1994, 3357.
Stad, p.p. placed (with sense of
discomfort, oppression), 3226,
3627.
Stede, s. place, 851.
Stent(e), v. delay (intrans.), 3936;
pi-et 3 pi, stopped, 1844 ; p.p.
3080.
Stert(e), v. spring, 3278 ; pret. 3 «.
2740, 2789, 3352.
Steuen, Stevyn, 8. voice, 2584, 3411,
3821, 3875, 3967.
Stode, 8. support, sustenance, 3621.
Stomelyd, pret. 3 s. stumbled, 115.
Stornnely, adv. sternly, 2549.
Stound(e), Stownd, s. time, short
while, 1959, 2549, 2865, 3066.
Stoure, Stowre, 8. conflict, strug-
gle, battle, 236, 655, 1811, 2288,
2741, 3036, 3893.
Straught, pret. 3 s. stretched him-
self, put forth his strength, 2814.
Stronge, adj. diflScult, 3833.
Stryffe, adj. sharp, keen, 1829.
Stynt(e), v. stop, 3246 (trans.),
3947 {intram.). See Stente.
SwEUYS, Sweyneys, «. pi. dreams,
3170, 3226.
SwiTHE, SwYTHE, odj- Very, 246;
quickly (frequently with pleonas-
tic cw, oZw), 79, 394, 531, 674, 700,
996, 1477, 1481.
SwoNNE, 8, swoon, 3728.
Swoughe, 8. swoon, 903, 1634.
SWOUGHE ? 875.
SwYTHE. See SwiTHE.
Sy(gh)e, pret. saw, 2800, 3105,
3201, 3618, 3749.
Syker, adj. assured, 2333; safe,
2741.
Syne, cor^. since, 3684.
Sythe, «. time, 696; occasion, 1561;
pi. SITHES, 774.
Sythe, adv. afterwards. See Sithe.
Sythen, a4j' afterwards, then, 1530,
1700, 2660. See Sithen.
Syttes. See Sitte.
Tase, pre8. 3 8. takes, 956.
Te, v. draw, come, 965, 1015.
Telde, 8. tent, 2624; pi. teldys,
2725.
Telle, conj. till, 3656.
Tene, 8. anger, 1449.
Tene, v. become vexed, 281.
Tent, pret. 3 «. paid attention to,
3946.
Than, adv. then, 1461, 2876, 2944,
3528.
Thar(e), pre8. 3 s. need (twipei*-
8<mal), 2028, 2338, 2426; pre8. 2 s.
(per8onal), 3285.
Tee, per8on. pron. they, 1893.
Thede, s. people, 1415 ; country,
61, 2305, .2361.
Thedyr, adv. thither, 3751.
Theighe, c<yt0. though, 1985.
Thereof, adv. therefrom, 1038.
Thewis, 8. pi. manners, 1081.
Thinkith, Thynkith, pres. 3 «.
seems, 635, 768 ; pret. 3 «.
thought, 3829.
Tho(o), demonstr. pron. pi. those,
352, 448, 1151, 1942, 3079, 3402.
Tho(o), adv. then, 186, 249, 313, 976,
1020, 1112, 1341,2854,3749, 1526.
Thore, adv. there, 2005, 2388, 3284,
3480.
Thought to, p.p. intended for, 1655.
Glossary.
145
Thro(o), adj. hard, bold, fierce, 589,
1526, 2184, 2389, 2879, 2942,3328.
Thrye, adv. thrice, 383.
Thryve, p.p. excellent, strong, 589.
TiDANDis, Tydandis, -E8, 8. pi. tid-
ings, 703, 710, 767.
TiLLE, TYLLE,prep. to, 191, 637, 817,
1771, 1780, 1786.
TiTHANDIS, TyTHANDIS, -YS, 8. pi.
tidings, 542, 1984, 2015, 2328.
TiTHlNGis, 8. pi, tidings, 641.
To, conj. until, 374, 3437.
To-FORNB, adv. before, 3608.
ToKE,^e^. 3 8. gave, 2713.
Tone, def. art. + numeral^ the one,
2797, 3253, 3384, 3710.
Triacle, 8. antidote to poison, sove-
reign remedy, 864.
Tronchon, 8. handle, 3071.
Trone, 8. throne, 3789, 3944.
TwiGHT, pret. 3 s. twitched, took,
1038.
TwYNNB, numeral^ two, 2211.
Tyde, 8. time, 54, 241, 365, 834,
2081, 3834.
Tylle. See Tille.
Vndyr-tyme, 8. morning, 2807.
Vnfayne, adj. unhappy, 2691.
Vn-hend(e), adj. ungentle, unkind,
1001, 1081.
Vnkouth, adj. unknown, foreign,
851.
Vnneth(e), adv. hardly, 2820, 2857.
Vn-sad, adj. not satiated, 1508.
Vnsaught, p.p. insane, 3189.
Vnso(u)nde, Vnsownde, adj. ill,
2859, 3343, 3387.
Vntylle, prep, to, 3858.
VouTE, 8. vault, dome, 972.
Waites, Waytes, pre8. 3 s. watches,
74, 1779.
Wake, v. keep vigils, 3571 ; watch,
2605 ; pre8. svkj. 1 pi. 2591.
Warne, v. prevent, 3011, 3040 (?).
Warynge, 8. warring, 2975.
Wawes, 8. pi. waves, 3465.
Wede, 8. apparel, armour, 83, 176,
778, 2639.
Wede, v. rave, be mad, 651, 787, 914.
Wedres, 8. pi. weather, 2470.
Welde, v. wield, control, 101 ; rule,
920, 2917.
Wele, 8. joy, 3788.
HORTB ARTHUR.
Welluette, 8. velvet, 2615.
Wene, 8. doubt, question, 548, 1680,
1758, 1822, 2546.
Wenge, v. avenge, 2217.
Wente. See Wenys.
WENTE,|9ret. 3 8. turned, 1349.
Wenys, pre8. 3 8. weens, thinks, 686 ;
pret. 3 8. WENDE, WENTE, 422, 865,
3054, 3795.
Were, v. wear, 2791 ; pret. 3 8.
WERYD, 3030.
Werrynge, 2932. See Warynge.
Wessche, jn-et. 3 pi. washed, 2855.
Wet(t)e, v. know, 1005, 1039, 1717,
2543, 3919 ; imperat. 2 8. 2303 ;
imperat. 2 pi. 2600.
Wetterlye, Wytterly, adv. surely,
1381, 1452.
Wexe, pret. 3 8. grew, 762, 951 ;
p.p. WEXYN, grown, 2207.
Whan, conj. when, 1367, 3304.
Whedyr, adv. whither, 3512, 3513,
3603.
Where, conj. whether, 1987.
Wight, Wyght, s. person, 577, 608 ;
thing (especially strengthening
the negative = not at all), 107,
472, 915, 1377.
Wight, adj. strong, active, 460.
Wight(e)ly, Wyghtely, adv. with
strengtii, might, 2822; quickly,
513, 3289.
Wis, imperat. 2 s. direct, 3414.
WiSELiCHE, adv. certainly, 1158.
Wi8t(e), Wyste, pret. knew (how),
8, 119, 128, 189, 435, 529, 1537,
2499, 3539 ;2>.|>. 1148.
WiTE, Wyte, V. blame, reproach
with, 492, 1153, 2880; pres. 2 «.
WITESTE, 2398.
Withe, prep, by, 1778.
WLLE,pres. 1 8. will, 2592.
WoDE, adj. mad, 384, 662, 1172,
1710, 1994, 2841.
WoKYS, 8. pi. weeks, 2111.
WoLDE, 8. subjection, control, 745>
3233.
WoLLE, pre8. 1 8. will, 1495.
WoNDYD, p.p. wounded, 3434.
WoNE, 8. abundance, 1083.
WoNNE, 8. dwelling, habitation,
3377.
WoNNYNG, 8. dwelling, 3561.
Wo(u)nyd, pret. dwelt, 137, 332,
3636.
146
Glossary,
WooDELY, adv, madly, wildly, 3191.
WoRCHE, V, work, 3683.
Worship(pe), Worshyp(pe), 8. hon-
our, reputation, 35, 1152, 2845,
2933.
Worshipped, -id, p.p. shown honour
to, 1551, 1569.
WoRSHiPPFFULLY, odv. with honouF,
1117.
WoRTHE, V, become, 1817 ; pres. 3 s.
W0RTHI8, gets, 782.
WoRTHE, Worthy, adj. worthy,
strong, 2545, 2559.
WouGHE, 8. trouble, evil, wo, 1333,
1365, 1638.
Wound, v. wend, go, 2863.
WouNDE, 1?. hesitate, 1070, 3558.
WouNT, pret 3 8. was wont, 26.
Wrake, s. rack, ruin, 1695, 3567;
trouble, suffering, 935, 948, 1092,
1181 ; vengeful spirit, 1451 ; mis-
chief, 1675.
Wykke, adj. severe, 3365.
Wylanlyche, ocy. villainously, 1156.
Wynne, s. joy, 3788.
Wynne, v. to come, 1830.
Wytterly. See Wetterlye.
Wythsayne, v. gainsay, deny, 2406.
Ya, adv. yea, 79, 1626.
Yare, adj. ready, 218, 349, 1420,
2702 ; adv. quickly, 983, 3536.
Yat, 8. gate, 2864 ; pi. yates, 2743.
Yede, j9re^. went, 81, 346, 667, 986,
1331, 2280, 3952.
Yeff(e), Yeue, v. give, 2728, 3267,
3275 ; pre8. 8idj. 3 s. yeffe, yiffe,
2643, 3671 ; imperat. 2 8. yif,
3554; pret yafe, yaff(e), 269,
2815, 2963 ; p.p. yeve, 88.
Yif(e), Yiff(e), cmij. if, 199, 1627,
1709, 2077.
Y3EN, 8. pi. eyes, 1349.
Ylke, adj. same, 54, 366, 1934, 3639.
See Tlke
Yo{o)de, pret. went, 307, 1858, 2876,
3108, 3751 ; ran, 962, 3935.
YoLDE, pret. 1 s. yielded, surren-
dered, 2308 *p.^. YOLDEN, 2797.
YvELLE, ady. difficult, 619.
147
INDEX OF PROPER NAMES.
N,B, All the variant forms of a name are given, but no attempt has been
made to render the references for each form exhaustive.
Aggrawayne, 1718, 1764, 1910,
1916 ; A^ravayne, 73 ; Agra-
veyne, 69 ; Agrawayne, 1676,
1692, 1728, 1832.
Arthur, 88, 337, 640, 955, 1048, 1681,
2388, 3082, 3964; Arthure, 1096,
1934, 2070, 2500 ; gen, Arthur, 5,
3346; Arthurs, 260, 2965; Arthur-
is, 3157, 3776.
Ascalot, 548, 747, 1064; Ascalote,
1011; Ascolot, 138, 297, 646,
1136 ; Ascolote, 1136.
Avelovne, 3516.
Avmysbery, 3569, 3964.
Barendowne, 3094, 3592.
Banndemagew, 2564.
Bedwere, 3386, 3400, 3519, 3768.
Benwike, 2305, 2474; Benwyk,
2707 ; Benwyke, 2534.
Boert, 230, 464 ; Boerte, 273, 432 ;
Boerte de Gawnes, 788 ; Bors,
1344, 1443, 1888, 2214, 3607,
3808, 3921 ; Bors de Gawnes,
1326, 1772, 2084, 2648, 2746,
3802.
Bretayne, 3376, 3553; gen, Bre-
taynes, 2513.
Canterbery, 3002, 3119; Cantur-
bery, 2982 ; Caunterbery, 3019.
Cornwale, 3267 ; Comwayle, 3275,
3295.
Cryste, 3004.
Doner, 3589; Dover, 3042, 3794;
Dower, 3055.
Ector, 299, 436, 789, 3807, 3946;
Estor, 1327, 1394, 2492.
Engelond, 2435. See Yngland.
Evwayn» 129 ; Evwayne, 107, 230,
265, 408 ; Evway[n]e, 106.
Excaliber, 3448.
Fraunce, 2486.
Gaheriet, 1674, 1722, 1940, 1979;
Gahereit, 1987; Gaheryet, 1931,
2020, 2026.
Gaheries, 1940 2020; Gaheryes,
1722, 1931 ; Gaherys, 1935.
Galehod, 43, 225; Galehud, 2587;
Galyhud, 2572 ; gen. Galehodis,
261.
Gawayn, 824, 1041, 2751 ; Gawayne,
636, 600, 1115, 1720, 2218, 3593 ;
Gaweyn, 570 ; Gaweyne, 576, 626 ;
gen, Gawayne, 2899.
Gawle, 2487.
Gawnes, -2484 ; Gawnys, 1422.
Gaynor, 3566 ; Gaynore, 421 ; Gay-
nour, 3600, 3965; Genure, 515,
835, 901, 936.
Glassynbery, 3960.
Ihesu, 2642, 3562, 3894, 3968; Ihesu
Criste, 534, 861 ; Ihesu Cryst,
2475; Ihesu Cryste, 1974, 2074,
3940 ; gen, Ihesu, 3929.
loyes Garde, 3845, 3901; loyus
Gard, 2044, 2346, 2460; loyus
Garde, 1669, 2079, 2110.
Kamelot, 420.
Karlytt, 2349 ; Karllyle, 2257, 2327.
Kelyon, 2466; Kerlyonne, 2529.
Kente, 2982, 3019, 3295.
Lancelot, 2916, 3590, 3884 ; Lance-
lot du lake, 1614, 3962 ; Launce-
lot, 53, 543, 1596, 2142, 3574,
3823; Launcelot de lake, 2589,
2640; Launcelot du lake, 629,
1410, 2779 ; Launcelote, 1682,
1945 ; Launcelote du lake, 1094 ;
148
Index of Proper Names.
Launcelott, 27, 81, 178, 1099;
Launcelotte, 233, 706; gen.
Laancelot, 2237 ; Laancelotis,
2046, 2329; Launcelottis, 594, 598.
London, 2992, 2996, 3800.
Lionelle, 1459; Lyoneit, 3797; Ly-
onelle, 230,432, 788, 1536, 2486.
Lucan, 2636, 3436 ; Lucan de bote-
ler,3232,3416; Lucan de botelere,
3384; Lucan de bottelere, 2631 ;
Lucane de botteler, 2695.
Mador, 883, 1449, 1644.
Mary, 3410 ; gen. Mary-is, 3863.
Mordred, 2518, 2998, 3228, 3560;
Mordreit, 1862, 1904, 1908, 2522 ;
Mordreite, 1675.
Nortlie Gales, 2580.
Rome, 2248.
Rowcnester, 2255.
Salusbury, 3148 ; Salysbery, 3597.
Sangrayle, 10.
Scottis, 2099.
Walys, 2099, 3147.
Wynchester, 42, 340, 2984.
Yngland, 347, 2261, 2958, 3263;
Ynglande, 2249, 2268; Ynglonde,
2098, 2273.
Yreland, 2098.
23269-S
/